On February​ 15, 2013, Asteroid 2012 DA14 passed within​ 17,200 miles​ [mi] of the surface of the Earth at a relative speed of 7.8 kilometers per second​ [km/s]. This is considerably closer than the orbit of geosynchronous satellites​ (26,200 miles). This is the closest recorded approach of an object this large. The asteroid 2012 DA14 was estimated to have a diameter of 30 meters​ [m] and a specific gravity of 3. If 2012 DA14 had hit the​ Earth, what is the total amount of energy that would have been released​ (i.e., what was the kinetic energy of the​ asteroid)? Express your answer in megatons​ [Mton]. One megaton is the energy released by one million metric tons of TNT explosive. A metric ton equals​ 1,000 kilograms​ [kg], and the explosive energy of TNT is 4,184 joules per gram​ [J/g].

Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations and Connections
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ISBN:9781133939146
Author:Katz, Debora M.
Publisher:Katz, Debora M.
Chapter7: Gravity
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 14PQ: Since 1995, hundreds of extrasolar planets have been discovered. There is the exciting possibility...
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On February​ 15, 2013, Asteroid 2012 DA14 passed within​ 17,200 miles​ [mi] of the surface of the Earth at a relative speed of 7.8 kilometers per second​ [km/s]. This is considerably closer than the orbit of geosynchronous satellites​ (26,200 miles). This is the closest recorded approach of an object this large. The asteroid 2012 DA14 was estimated to have a diameter of 30 meters​ [m] and a specific gravity of 3. If 2012 DA14 had hit the​ Earth, what is the total amount of energy that would have been released​ (i.e., what was the kinetic energy of the​ asteroid)? Express your answer in megatons​ [Mton]. One megaton is the energy released by one million metric tons of TNT explosive. A metric ton equals​ 1,000 kilograms​ [kg], and the explosive energy of TNT is 4,184 joules per gram​ [J/g].
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