A 0.872 km diameter asteroid will make a crater about 10 km in diameter. Let the asteroid have a density of 3000 kg/m3 and impact the surface at 22 km/sec. Assuming a spherical asteroid, what is the kinetic energy (in joule) of the asteroid? Convert the answer to megatons of TNT, where 1 megaton is about 4 × 1015 joule. For comparison, the most energetic weapon in the human arsenal is about 100 megatons.

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
5th Edition
ISBN:9781133104261
Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Chapter6: Energy Of A System
Section: Chapter Questions
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A 0.872 km diameter asteroid will make a crater about 10 km in diameter. Let the asteroid have a density of 3000 kg/m3 and impact the surface at 22 km/sec. Assuming a spherical asteroid, what is the kinetic energy (in joule) of the asteroid? Convert the answer to megatons of TNT, where 1 megaton is about 4 × 1015 joule. For comparison, the most energetic weapon in the human arsenal is about 100 megatons.

Expert Solution
Step 1

Given data:

The diameter of the asteroid (D) = 0.872 km = 872 m

Density of the asteroid ρ= 3000 kg/m3

Velocity with which the asteroid impacts the surface = 22 km/sec

                                                                                    = 22000 m/s

Need to determine the kinetic energy (in joule) of the asteroid.

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