2 ms·
I don't believe any model that says many small impactors cause more or the same damage than one large impactor. Surface area is higher, drag is higher. V beco
by willis936 5y ago
I don't believe any model that says many small impactors cause more or the same damage than one large impactor. Surface area is higher, drag is higher. V becomes lower. 1/2mv^2 becomes dramatically lower. In every single case that an impactor is split.
Also, in the case of hitting a rock with sufficient kinetic energy it will become atomized. A cloud of fast moving space dust would burn in the upper atmosphere.
- Gare 5y agoIf I recall correctly, heating up the atmosphere to scorching temperatures is a major concern. It's better to heat up one spot than half of the globe.
- willis936 5y agoThat is true. Well, in the case of being smashed by a hypothetical FTL wave the imparted energy should be sufficient to alter the course clear of Earth.