The one ton meteor question!

It should be small but should be noticed.

It is estimated that the speed could be 16 kilometer per second.

The kinetic energy of the impact could then be 1/2 mass * square of the velocity

== 1/2 x 16000 ^2

The size of an equivalent TNT explosion can be calculated and compared.

I get 128Mega Joules! My TNT explosion formulas are a little rusty as I haven't blown anything up since I was a kid! Any help would be gratefully appreciated as to the size of a meteor that would cause me to swim for it?

1 kg of TNT = 4 x 10^6 Joules == 1 ton = 32 kg of TNT - just a hard poof.

Somehow it does not seem right. does it?

There is a "Earth Impact Effects Program" available on the web. it is an interactive program that take all factors into account. I Google for it and found the maths write-up so far.

My guess for a bus-sized impact is 250 ton == 32000 Mega Joule. = 8000 kg of TNT.

not big either.

Do any one know the power of the Hiroshima bomb?

Hendrick,

While there is no definitive answer due to the lack of some specific data, based upon the data that was collected, the atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 (official designation "Little Boy") had an explosive yield of between 15 and 17 kilotons of TNT.

Add the huge schock wave and thermal energy created by the crashing metheor to the total impact damage. A 1 m3 burning metheor crashing on the Mediterranean...I´d say it´ll wipe out all coastal towns north, south and east of Gilbragtar, if not farther inland.

impact would be minimal. About the same as a bomb made with TNT of the same weight. By the time it hit it would be going a lot slower than before it was slowed by the atmosphere.

A 1 ton bomb makes a splash and a bang and a widespread underwater sound wave. but few long range effects

I´ll take your word for it. Others may want to flee to the hills.

I agree the direct effect will be minimal.

The effect on the environment will however not be good.

Fish will be floating belly up.

The fishery based economy will suffer.

Has any one tried the calculation?

What is the slowdown effect trough air of increasing density, water , floor of the med?

What is the average or typical depth available?

Average depth is 1500m. As for the fishery based economy, it has been over fished badly and now it is starting to show! This year, without the tuna to eat the jellyfish, we have had beaches full of them! there are very few big fish left here!

If the meteor came in at a very shallow angle, do you think there would be any chance of a 'Super Skimmer' that bounces back out into space?

I can see it now! The sun glowing on the horizon, the tranquil evening fading into dusk, when, with a roar the red hot rock comes hurtling in from the east, contacting the surface with a tremendous crash and hiss, bouncing high over Gibraltar, coming down to repeat the effect in the Atlantic...Come on! The world record has to be broken! Barnes Wallace would have loved the imagery!

I like my calamari hot. Will it be a dinner show?

Oh yes, and you can have a nice chianti...

'Super Skimmer' that bounces back out into space? - Yes - With lots of practise.

I was hoping that someone will do some calculations for us.

My 'paraffin' model HP71 calculator was stolen and I am not comfortable using the modern replacement. I do a calculation 3 times and end up with 4 answers.

I did not know it was only 1500 m deep - but I suppose it will still be above my head.

Now you tell me no fish! - The travel agents still advertise trips to the Mediterranean with fishing. I might as well take a trip to our own polluted rivers.

The jelly fish and blue bottles on a beach when I was 5 caused a severe dislike in jelly. I only eat it when I have to (at in-laws)

Me too, can't stand the stuff! Has something to do with pre-chewed food!

Yes, the med has an average depth of only 1500m, but in some places it can plummet to an amazing 5,267 meters (about 3.27 miles) in the Calypso Deep! I do alot of diving (only with a snorkel) but in the last 6 years or so I think I can only remember 2 big fish, lots of tiddlers, and bucket loads of rubbish! Shame really, the med used to be really beautiful, but now seems to have lost its charm! Don't you just love the 'human touch'!

Where is the garbage from in the Med? Are the countries round about dumping their garbage in the Med instead of using landfills or burning it in controlled incinerators? If the Med is that bad it seems that a meteor hitting there is a minor problem by comparison.

On June 23, 1969, in Cleveland, Ohio (AKA The Mistake on the Lake), the Cuyahoga River caught fire. This auspicious event inspired Randy Newman to pen the high dudgeon, "Burn On, Big River."

If memory serves, the local press blamed it on a one-ton iron meteorite.

Actually, when I moved here back in 1984, I was told the Cuyahoga River had caught fire twice; that has to be a record. I'll check Guinesses. (Btw, thanks for the picture). Things are much better now "Thank You", and we have a beautiful park system including a National Park. Only one problem. Eliminating the pollution issues also increased costs and so the industries fled. Now Cleveland has little industry left and few good paying jobs. Our major pollution these days is "Bambi" in the suburbs near the parks (and even in citified areas). For all practical purposes, we now live in a deer park.

The jelly fish and blue bottles on a beach when I was 5 caused a severe dislike in jelly. I only eat it when I have to (at in-laws)

Have you considered eating your in-laws?

I rather eat jelly than face terrible indigestion. I have renamed them to out-laws!

There's also the sonic boom of something doing around Mach 20.

The Shetland Islands look very inviting...

Isn't there a video out there of a meteor bouncing off the atmosphere? I seem to remember this from my miss-spent childhood.

-A-

WOT more space junk!

I'm dead against them sending up these meteors/meteorites into space in the first place.

Yeah, OK. You got me. Meteorite-Meteoroid. Space rock. Chunk-O-Thunk!

whatever.

-A-

Well, Skylab didn't, and it was heavier than 1 tonne.

If I recall correctly, Skylab didn't perform as predicted on re-entry either...

Oooooh. That was cold.

hehehe

"Light up the sky with Standard Fireworks."

Just to let you know. A short time ago another piece of space junk landed in Sydney, (Australia for those who don't know), Air Force One and some bloke by the name of Bush and 650 hangers on !!!!! ............ and we have water shortages here.

Just as well that they didn't all land in Sydney Harbour, mabe Sydney would have been wiped out by a giant tidal wave or tsunami or something......

Count your blessings. You're not stuck with the bloke. At least in Sydney Dubya was only paying a visit...

Hi europium, it sounds like you are terribly fond of him!!!!!

As you said we are not stuck with him, only four days I believe.

However you should see Sydney, it looks like a fortress. I have never seen anything like it. Perhaps only at a Test Match (cricket) in Mumbai, India. That's needed to keep the players, and umpires safe from the maddening crowds. Just as well it's only a game.

it would sizzle and make a big splash.

I doubt if the splash would be that big either!!!

I feel I must dissagree...

Big splash ... then sizzle...

That depends on what a big splash is relevant to.

A one ton piece of matter is not that big. It's only 1m³ of demineralized water at a temperature of 4⁰C. (Although this tonne is slightly heavier than the ton, it doesn't really matter for the purpose of this exercise ....... i.e. the splash)

Speed of impact would increase the size of the splash, as would anle of impact. These we do not know.