Astronomers estimate that a 2.0-km-diameter asteroid collideswith the Earth once every million years. The collision couldpose a threat to life on Earth. (a) Assume a spherical asteroidhas a mass of 3200 kg for each cubic meter of volume andmoves toward the Earth at 15 km/s How much destructiveenergy could be released when it embeds itself in the Earth?(b) For comparison, a nuclear bomb could release about 4.0x1016 JHow many such bombs would have to explodesimultaneously to release the destructive energy of theasteroid collision with the Earth?

College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CQ: Estimate the order of magnitude of the length, in meters, of each of the following; (a) a mouse, (b)...
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 Astronomers estimate that a 2.0-km-diameter asteroid collides
with the Earth once every million years. The collision could
pose a threat to life on Earth. (a) Assume a spherical asteroid
has a mass of 3200 kg for each cubic meter of volume and
moves toward the Earth at 15 km/s How much destructive
energy could be released when it embeds itself in the Earth?
(b) For comparison, a nuclear bomb could release about 4.0x1016 J
How many such bombs would have to explode
simultaneously to release the destructive energy of the
asteroid collision with the Earth?

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