Will the comet hit the earth?

In summary, the conversation discusses the observation of a comet approaching Earth at a distance of 100 Earth-radii with a speed of 15000 km/h. The question is raised whether the comet will hit the Earth or the geostationary zone, and if so, when. The suggestion is made to apply Kepler's second law of planetary motion to calculate the speed needed for the comet to intersect either object's orbit, and whether it has enough energy to reach that speed.
  • #1
Troodon
1
0

Homework Statement


A comet is observed in a distance of 100 Earth -radius away from the Earth. It is approaching with a speed of 15000 km/h in a direction only 50 off the line connection the two objects.
Earth mass 5.97*1024 kg
Earth radius 6.378*106 m
Gravity constant 6.6726*10-11 Nm2/kg2
(The geostationary zone is an orbit with radius of 6.62 Earth –radius, and is packed with communication satellites orbiting the Earth.)

Homework Equations


Will the comet hit the Earth, and if so – when ?
Will the comet hit the geostationary zone, and if so – when ?

The Attempt at a Solution


Don't know what to do?
 
Last edited:
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  • #2


Troodon said:

Homework Statement


A comet is observed in a distance of 100 Earth -radius away from the Earth. It is approaching with a speed of 15000 km/h in a direction only 50 off the line connection the two objects.
Earth mass 5.97*1024 kg
Earth radius 6.378*106 m
Gravity constant 6.6726*10-11 Nm2/kg2
(The geostationary zone is an orbit with radius of 6.62 Earth –radius, and is packed with communication satellites orbiting the Earth.)

Homework Equations


Will the comet hit the Earth, and if so – when ?
Will the comet hit the geostationary zone, and if so – when ?

The Attempt at a Solution


Don't know what to do?
Try applying Kepler's second law of planetary motion.

If its orbit barely intersected a) the Earth or b) the geostationary zone, how much speed would it have based on Kepler's second law?

Does it have enough energy to reach such a speed?

AM
 

1. Will the comet hit the earth?

As a scientist, I cannot definitively answer this question as it depends on the specific trajectory and characteristics of the comet. However, based on current scientific evidence and calculations, it is highly unlikely that a comet will directly hit the earth in the near future.

2. How often do comets hit the earth?

Comets do not frequently hit the earth. In fact, the last major impact from a comet was over 66 million years ago, which led to the extinction of dinosaurs. Small comet fragments do enter the earth's atmosphere regularly, but they usually burn up before reaching the surface.

3. What would happen if a comet hit the earth?

If a large comet were to directly hit the earth, it would have devastating effects on the planet and all living beings. The impact would create a massive crater, cause tsunamis, earthquakes, and release a large amount of debris and dust into the atmosphere, potentially leading to a global cooling event.

4. Can we stop a comet from hitting the earth?

There are currently no known methods to completely stop a comet from hitting the earth. However, scientists are constantly monitoring and studying potentially hazardous comets and developing strategies to deflect or mitigate their impact if necessary.

5. What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

Comets and asteroids are both celestial bodies that orbit the sun, but they have distinct differences. Comets are made up of ice, dust, and rock, and often have a tail of gas and dust that forms when they approach the sun. Asteroids, on the other hand, are mostly made of rock and metal and do not have a tail. They are also typically smaller than comets.

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