Impact cratering refers to the circular excavation of a plan - GED Prep
Question
Impact cratering refers to the circular excavation of a planet’s surface when it is struck by asteroids or meteoroid. Since they are instantaneous events, impact cratering has special features. When an impact strikes a surface, it sends a shock wave which fractures the rock and excavates a large cavity. The diameter of the impact crater depends of the size, density, and velocity of the asteroid or comet. Asteroids are denser than comets. However, comets have a higher velocity compared to asteroids. The diameter of an impact crater can be determined by using the equation below;
Crater Diameter for comet (m) = 23.8 x comet diameter (m) + 464
Assume comet density is 1000kg/m3 traveling at 50km/s
Crater diameter for asteroid (m) = 20.9 x asteroid diameter (m) + 436
Assuming an asteroid has a density of 3000kg/m3 and velocity is 17 km/s
Scientists hypothesize that Barringer Crater near Flagstaff, Arizona, was formed by the impact of an asteroid that was 50 meters in diameter. If a comet had formed this crater, what would have been the diameter of the comet?
Answers
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Explanation
The diameter of asteroid formed is given as;
Crater diameter for asteroid (m) = 20.9 x asteroid diameter (m) + 436
Substituting 50 m in asteroid diameter,
Crater diameter= 20.9 x 50 + 436 =1481 m
The diameter of the comet that would have caused the same crater is given as
Crater Diameter for comet (m) = 23.8 x comet diameter (m) + 464
Crater diameter (1481)= 23.8 x crater diameter (y)+ 464
1481 - 464 = 23.8 y
y=42.73 m
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