3 ms·

It’s a good theory, and may have occurred by large objects breaking up during atmospheric entry or it was a cluster of objects in space.

• pfdietz 5y ago
  The K/T impactor had linear dimensions comparable to the scale height of the atmosphere. Unless the impact was at an extremely shallow angle (unlikely) breaking up in the atmosphere would have no significant effect. The mass of atmosphere that could potentially transfer momentum with the impactor before impact would be much less than the mass of the impactor.
  • pixl97 5y ago
    Wouldn't the break up be more influenced by the gravitational acceleration imparted by earth? Most asteroids are rather loosely bound.
    • ncmncm 5y ago
      That would be tidal forces. There wouldn't be enough time for that. Shoemaker-Levy orbited Jupiter for quite a while before it broke up and went in.