Previous in Forum: big bang flawed theory   Next in Forum: Photogrametic Sistem - Estereoscopic Camera
Close
Close
Close
43 comments
Rate Comments: Nested
Anonymous Poster

Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/19/2007 7:15 AM

Can anyone enlighten me on this: is there a formula to work out the velocity of impact of a bus-sized asteroid hitting the earth? If I only had information on the earth's orbital speed and distance would this help? I have no science background, any help would be appreciated!

Someone suggested that this could be a trick question: a bus-sized asteroid might burn up in the earth's atmosphere, but I have a feeling that it would make an impact...

Reply
Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
Guru
Popular Science - Evolution - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member

Join Date: May 2006
Location: The 'Space Coast', USA
Posts: 11119
Good Answers: 918
#1

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/19/2007 9:14 AM

Ke = mv^2

Where:

Ke = Kinetic Energy

m = The mass of the object

v = The relative velocity of the object

^2 = The power of 2. In other words, the square of the velocity or v * v.

To solve for velocity you need to know the impact energy of the object and its mass. Doing basic algebra yields:

Velocity = the square root of ( Kinetic Energy / mass )

Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#6
In reply to #1

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 3:00 AM

All of his formula are correct, but all that depends on how fast it is traveling and its mass. I have a piece of meteorite in my hand, it's about the size of my fist and weights about 5 lbs. Rocky meteorites weight a lot less. So the two things you have to come up with are mass and speed.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#8
In reply to #6

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 5:01 AM

I have a piece of meteorite in my hand,

So that's what you call it?

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Biology - New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Fans of Old Computers - ZX-81 - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Centurion, South Africa
Posts: 3921
Good Answers: 97
#2

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/19/2007 1:26 PM

Google for "Vredefort Dome" it is believed that a 10km object hit the earth. a crater 300km in diameter was formed. A big object of 5km hit Australia and formed a 120km crater.

A bus size would really be relatively small.

__________________
Never do today what you can put of until tomorrow - Student motto
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#3

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/19/2007 3:37 PM

Someone is teasing you...there is no answer to this question...

It depends how fast it is going initially, the shape, the angle if incidence to the atmosphere and a thousand other variables.

(I reserve the right to be no help whatsoever)

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply
Associate

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 28
#12
In reply to #3

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 10:39 AM

I believed, that he meant a strainght on hit scenario.

__________________
Nuphea
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#13
In reply to #12

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 10:54 AM

In that case see #9.!

Using that information and by applying some high level statistics we can calculate the velicty to be c/2 .

(joke folks don't shoot)

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Biology - New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Fans of Old Computers - ZX-81 - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Centurion, South Africa
Posts: 3921
Good Answers: 97
#4

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/19/2007 4:37 PM

Try this link

http://www.hartrao.ac.za/other/tswaing/tswaing.html

300 000 ton. slightly bigger than a bus. They show some velocities etc.

__________________
Never do today what you can put of until tomorrow - Student motto
Reply
Guru

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Placerville, CA (38° 45N, 120° 47'W)
Posts: 6215
Good Answers: 248
#5

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 1:23 AM

As Del pointed out, there is no answer to the question. The incoming velocity depends on where it came from (eg. the asteroid belt, farther out, outside the solar system...) and what other massive objects it passed near on its way here ( passing by a massive object may either speed it up, make no difference, or slow it down, depending on the relative motions of the two).

The impact velocity for a given incoming velocity depends mostly on the angle of approach. If it just grazes the atmosphere, it will be slowed by friction, but will pass on by and not strike the Earth. At a little steeper angle, much of it will burn up during passage through the atmosphere (the Challenger was a bit larger than a bus, and somewhat slower than most asteroids). If it comes in vertically to the point of impact, the atmosphere is very thin and will only slow it a little.

Now on the other hand, the escape velocity from Earth is about 25,000 mph. That is the outward velocity an object must have if it is to leave the vicinity of the Earth's gravitational field. It is also the velocity acquired by an object originally at rest at a large distance from Earth, during its fall to Earth. Since most asteroids already had a significant velocity before they began falling to Earth, most of them will be traveling significantly more that 25,000 mph at the time they enter the Earth's atmosphere.

__________________
Teaching is a great experience, but there is no better teacher than experience.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Posts: 4496
Good Answers: 137
#7

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 3:58 AM

Earth's orbital velocity is ~ 30 km/s, asteroid probably doing similar speed so could take say 50 km/s impact velocity for order-of-magnitude estimates (of what I don't know).

Codey

__________________
Give masochists a fair crack of the whip
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#9
In reply to #7

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 5:03 AM

Estimated impact veloctiy somewhere between 0 and c .

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Posts: 4496
Good Answers: 137
#10
In reply to #9

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 5:23 AM

You could say that

__________________
Give masochists a fair crack of the whip
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - Cardio-7

Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 621
Good Answers: 10
#11

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 9:02 AM

Earth's orbital speed would be an slightly eliptical circle with a radius (a.u.) of 149,597,870 Km, traveled once a year. Actual radii are 1.0167 a.u. at aphelion and 0.9833 a.u. at Perihelion. As for the actual meteor/meteorite, it depends on the angle of approach to the Earth (opposite or with the orbital direction of the Earth, angles, etc), plus would the meteor break up during trans-atmospheric travel and gravitational effects from the Earth, shape of the meteor (atmospheric resistance) and so on.

Reply
Anonymous Poster
#14

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 1:24 PM

terminal velocity (object dependent)

Reply
Guru

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Placerville, CA (38° 45N, 120° 47'W)
Posts: 6215
Good Answers: 248
#15
In reply to #14

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 2:28 PM

NOOOOOO!!!!

Terminal velocity is the velocity at which the weight of (Earth's pull on) the object is just counterbalanced by the sum of buoyant and friction forces of the atmosphere, so it falls at a constant (approximately) velocity. These velocities range from essentially zero for very small dust particles to something on the order of 300 mph for large hail stones. A dense aerodynamic object like a bullet shot straight up will come back down with a velocity of that order of magnitude.

Any space rock the size of a bus approaching the Earth at over 25,000 mph will have significant friction forces, but nowhere near the weight of the object. Even in a very low angle of approach, it will not spend enough time in the atmosphere to loose all that kinetic energy. Virtually all the atmosphere is below 50 miles altitude, so in a vertical approach, the object has roughly 50/25000=2/1000 of an hour, or 0.12 minutes, or 7.2 seconds between entering the atmosphere and striking the Earth. It would only be slowed down very slightly!

__________________
Teaching is a great experience, but there is no better teacher than experience.
Reply
Guru
United States - Member - New Member Engineering Fields - Mechanical Engineering - New Member Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member Hobbies - Target Shooting - New Member Safety - ESD - New Member Technical Fields - Education - New Member

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Texas
Posts: 635
Good Answers: 20
#16

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 3:12 PM

what are the angular circumstances necessary for and asteroid to make a "soft" landing?

I imagine an object coming in a following trajectory, using earth gravity to slow it down just enough, then being caught up by the earth. it could land on the side of the earth receding from the orbital direction, slowing the landing even more.

What would the proverbial farmer in the field see when it came in at thirty or so miles an hour? I bet he would "run all the way to town screaming 'It came out of the sky!'"

-A-

__________________
question everything
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#17
In reply to #16

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 3:32 PM

I would think it unlikely that you could get a velocity lower than the free falling terminal velocity...which is probably about 90mph ish?

Unless maybe it's a big soft fluffy asbestos asteroid... ?

Mmmmm flufftastic!

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Cosmology - New Member United States - Member - New Member

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: 33.49N, 84.19W
Posts: 1475
Good Answers: 3
#18
In reply to #17

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/20/2007 4:54 PM

Or conversely, if it lands in a big, soft, fluffy asbestos field.

__________________
All worthwhile programmers know that constants always vary.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#20
In reply to #18

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/21/2007 1:38 AM

Let's not joke or sugar coat the situation. A bus sized asteroid would make a mess.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#21
In reply to #20

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/21/2007 3:03 AM

Not if it landed in Iraq ... George and Tony have already made a BIG mess so no one would notice...

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#22
In reply to #21

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/22/2007 3:11 AM

If it really is the size of a school bus, it's only allowed to travel at a maximum speed of 50 mph. So you can figure from there.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#23
In reply to #22

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/22/2007 5:47 PM

SCHOOL BUS SIZED....????!!!!

Oh my God! The children! what about the children?

From now on I'm driving my son to school!

cr3

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#24
In reply to #23

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/22/2007 10:58 PM

Ya know, he said "have no other gods before me." So, like, does that mean there are other gods? And if so, what kind? How many others are we not to say don't exist. I know this is implicit, but I'm just thinking here.... Hmm?

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#26
In reply to #24

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/22/2007 11:33 PM

genesis ch 3

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#27
In reply to #26

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/23/2007 12:05 AM

You mean where God proclaims that the one thing we can understand is how he could just kill a god?

But it doesn't say he got them all. He only got the ones that were messin' with his stuff.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#28
In reply to #27

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/23/2007 10:04 PM

perhaps you should read it.

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#29
In reply to #28

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/23/2007 10:40 PM

Nah! All the best pictures are already colored in.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Placerville, CA (38° 45N, 120° 47'W)
Posts: 6215
Good Answers: 248
#30
In reply to #28

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/24/2007 1:13 PM

Many of us are scientists. Please show us just one piece of verifiable evidence.

__________________
Teaching is a great experience, but there is no better teacher than experience.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#33
In reply to #30

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 3:07 AM

Dear Dick,

Many scientists hold religious beliefs.

The 4 back and forth correspondences between V and I are there for you to read. Please do so.

In an effort to show you one piece of verifiable evidence I offer you the following....

here.

I can not close without expressing my dissatisfaction of your uncouth question.

cr3

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#34
In reply to #33

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 3:28 AM

While I'm not sure whether this fits the definition as uncouth, I must say all you have in your favor is an antiquated and really messed with piece of text, which has been mishandled by at least a hundred sources. I still respect your right to believe it is the fountain of all truth.

Please don't deny me my right to think it's no more significant than Moby Dick.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#35
In reply to #34

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 3:41 AM

Absolutely.

And, unless you are DKwarner the uncouth comment was not to you. But if the shoe fits, live and let live, to each his own etc., etc., etc.

I have always wondered why people are so willing to discard all religious accounts of man's condition whole-heartedly? Particularly when so much of science is precariously pitched atop theory and conjecture. Yes I know please lambast me the great mountains of empirical...I am not interested in grade school carrying on.

Nonetheless, I am not hoping to engage in some religious discussion. I am simply trying to sort out your previous comment regarding chasing Sammy Davis Jr with a stick in Vegas at a Christian rock concert. Utter nonsense is all I can detect.

CR3

Oh, and by the way. Please inform me when there is verifiable evidence to the contrary.

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#36
In reply to #35

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 4:05 AM

I've view your exchange with some interest....can I play too ?

Please inform me when there is verifiable evidence to the contrary.

This is the BIG fallacy. I'm sure you realise that it is impossible to prove the non exixtence of gods fairies ghosts etc. The concept of falsifiabily (see Karl Popper) is a corner stone of science. A theory must have the potential to be dissproven else it isn't a valid theory.

Verm's Moby Dick post is both fair and accurate.

And as to beliefs I too may not agree with them but would defend the right to hold them!

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#37
In reply to #36

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 4:13 AM

yes yes. I understand that we cannot disprove what our minds can fancy.

Now will you please explain why I am said to be pictured chasing Sammy around with a stick and why this whole thing came about.

More and more rhetoric. Yay hoo-ray. The science people don't want to agree with the spiritual people! And the spiritual people can't offer scientific proof, blah blah blah. I am so shocked. And bored with the stalemate.Where are the great thinkers when you need 'em? (lighthearted statement. please insert your own fuzzy emoticon here)

Now, what of Sammy Davis Jr.? I have an alibi!

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru
Popular Science - Weaponology - New Member United Kingdom - Member - New Member

Join Date: May 2007
Location: Harlow England
Posts: 16512
Good Answers: 670
#38
In reply to #37

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 4:28 AM

Now will you please explain why I am said to be pictured chasing Sammy around with a stick and why this whole thing came about.

Nuffin to do wiv me mate! (Insert emoticon of bloke shrugging shoulders in the 'French' manner)

Hey I like your new verbal emoticon motif ...it's more versatile. (Smilley face with thumbs up, [and cup of tea/piece of toast])

Cheers

Del

__________________
health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Placerville, CA (38° 45N, 120° 47'W)
Posts: 6215
Good Answers: 248
#40
In reply to #33

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 11:51 AM

Dear CR3,

I am fully aware that many scientists do indeed hold religious beliefs.

I have read all of this thread, much of it multiple times.

I followed your link. Nice place to visit! But I saw no evidence.

What question was uncouth?

Quoting Vermin: "I still respect your right to believe it is the fountain of all truth."

Dick

__________________
Teaching is a great experience, but there is no better teacher than experience.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: 30°30'N, 97°45'W, Elv: 597 ft.
Posts: 2410
Good Answers: 10
#41
In reply to #40

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 12:35 PM

I followed your link. Nice place to visit! But I saw no evidence.

Exactly. If you don't see it there, then I surely will never influence your perspective.

I have read all of this thread, much of it multiple times.

Then you know I didn't bring up the topic.

Quoting Vermin: "I still respect your right to believe it is the fountain of all truth."

I don't recall ever saying anything about my fountain.

No one is willing to explain the previous comments? I see. And once more. Explain why my beliefs regarding spirituality are in question? I really have a difficult time with some of you who are so eager to try and make your self heard at the expense of sounding like a bully in the sounding off. (please see your uncouth question prior)

All the same I submit to your empirical evidence. I cower at the thought of having to defend my archaic and mundane belief system (which has not been stated here). You have exposed me for what I am "A believer in something bigger than myself." For shame. I shall slink off this forum never again to want to face the challenges of the great scientist. (insert emoticon demonstrating extreme sarcasm here).

Let me replay this. I add what I think is a humorous response in line with a number of humorous responses previously posted. The general punchline was regarding "a school bus sized..." and how that could be misrepresented as a headline in the papers. Then some goober makes a comment about Vegas and Sammy and Christian rock. Then some other Johnny come lately says he has read the thread in it's entirety and strongly suggest that I produce one piece of verifiable evidence regarding (I assume) the existence of God. Which I do. I am then found scratching my head wondering if people are lurking about for the arrival of some God question so that they can hear themselves and ask the rhetorical question.

In school I toyed with the idea of majoring in sociology.I see now why I changed my mind.

And still no answer to my question. Hey look! Look over there! I think someone is talking about dousing! Go get 'em tiger. I bet it could lead to a discussion where you can say something else rhetorical and in uncouth fashion! (same sarcastic emoticon as before)

__________________
I never apologize. I'm sorry that's just the way I am.
Reply Off Topic (Score 5)
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#19

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/21/2007 1:32 AM

I think you're up a creek with the question about velocity, unless you measured many many parameters from the impact site and worked backward to determine it's velocity.

A better question would be: if a bus sized asteroid hit the earth, what would be the damage if it was going at this velocity, then this velocity, then this velocity... There's no telling how fast the asteroid is traveling initially. It could be going fast or slow.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#25

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/22/2007 10:59 PM

Laden or unladen?

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru
Popular Science - Biology - New Member Hobbies - Musician - New Member APIX Pilot Plant Design Project - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Fans of Old Computers - ZX-81 - New Member

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Centurion, South Africa
Posts: 3921
Good Answers: 97
#31

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/24/2007 6:11 PM

Bus size is minor, we have those for tea. I am just joking it should do a lot of damage.

For a 10km one

www.hartrao.ac.za/other/vredefort/vredefort.html

Or see post #4 for a smaller one.

__________________
Never do today what you can put of until tomorrow - Student motto
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#32
In reply to #31

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 2:43 AM

Did you know that about five or six times a year there is a multi-megaton explosion in our upper atmosphere?

The Federal Government was so convinced that these were caused by the Soviets breaking the nuclear test ban treaty that we launched a satellite to check. Turned out on an average of six times a year a large enough asteroid blows up in our atmosphere to create these multi-megaton explosions.

Kind of makes you fell vulnerable, doesn't it.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Guru

Join Date: May 2006
Location: Placerville, CA (38° 45N, 120° 47'W)
Posts: 6215
Good Answers: 248
#39
In reply to #32

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 11:35 AM

No, I hadn't heard that! Sounds plausible. Any reference available?

__________________
Teaching is a great experience, but there is no better teacher than experience.
Reply
Guru

Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
Good Answers: 50
#42
In reply to #39

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

08/25/2007 3:57 PM

You're going to have to surf the web. But It was a DOD satellite, probably launched by NASA. I'd limit the time line to 60s - 70s.

__________________
"Perplexity is the beginning of dementia" - Professor Coriolus
Reply
Anonymous Poster
#43

Re: Impact Velocity of a bus-sized asteroid....

10/26/2010 8:09 PM

you first would have to find out what is closest to its line of locomotion and then you figure out how far this object is from your telescope. then by using the angle that your telescope is positioned determine the angle of sight towards the asteroid with this said you can now use soh cah toa (primary trigonometrical ratios) to find the distance between these objects. with that said you may now wait exactly 2-9 days (makes sure distance traveled is not more then half way to object)to see how far it moved and by accurately doing the same steps as before using the same object as reference you may now subtract original distance from new distance (number should be negative so turn it positive) using the two numbers you now have (distance traveled and distance to be traveled) you may use the time needed to travel to givin point and the the distance traveled to figure out velocity now wait a little longer and figure out velocity again if it is more or less then you are going to be monitoring it untill it is very close and very fast (or clear of gravitational forces) note your most likely not going to be able to use soh cah toa because in that case it will be flying parallel to earth use cosine law or sine law instead for your case. god im still in highschool and i had to point this out to you guys. thats sad( i left out alot of equations for lack of time (and possibly space) so you will have to come up with equation for distance to moderately stationary object) plus it is not science it is math and ratios and use atomic weight of atmosphere layers and atomic weight of asteroid to determine rate of decceleration. use the atom and rate of an object sinking in water as a reference. (compare rates of two symmetrical balls of different matter and compare to figure out atom,electron,proton role in rate).

Reply
Reply to Forum Thread 43 comments
Copy to Clipboard

Users who posted comments:

-A- (1); Anonymous Hero (1); Anonymous Poster (2); Cardio07 (1); Codemaster (2); dkwarner (5); Hendrik (3); Johnjohn (1); nuphea (1); TexasCharley (7); user-deleted-1105 (8); vermin (11)

Previous in Forum: big bang flawed theory   Next in Forum: Photogrametic Sistem - Estereoscopic Camera

Advertisement