Calculating Maximum Crater Diameter for an Asteroid Impact

  • Thread starter Thread starter scatterbrain8
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Diameter
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the maximum crater diameter resulting from an asteroid impact, specifically a 500 km diameter asteroid with an impact strength of 4000 J/kg and a density of 3.5 g/cm³, impacting at a velocity of 5 km/sec. The key formula established is that the asteroid will not melt if the kinetic energy is less than the product of mass and impact strength. The calculated kinetic energy of the asteroid is approximately 2.875 x 10^27 Joules, which is significantly greater than the mass multiplied by the impact strength, indicating that the asteroid will not melt upon impact. However, the lack of information regarding the material strength of the impacted body complicates the calculation of the crater diameter.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of kinetic energy calculations
  • Familiarity with crater formation theories
  • Knowledge of material strength properties
  • Basic principles of impact physics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between impact velocity and crater size
  • Study the effects of material strength on crater formation
  • Learn about the physics of asteroid impacts and energy transfer
  • Explore advanced crater modeling techniques using software tools
USEFUL FOR

Astrophysicists, planetary geologists, and researchers interested in impact events and crater formation dynamics.

scatterbrain8
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
An asteroid with a diameter of 500km has an impact strength of 4000J/kg. What is the largest sized crater diameter which can be formed without melting the asteroid? The asteroid has a density of 3.5 g/cm^3 and the impact velocity is 5km/sec


I have a few formulas:


The asteroid will not melt if: kinetic energy < mass* impact strength

and, crater diameter is proportional to W^(1/3)


I have no information about the body being impacted so I don't know if I can use the formula for crater diameter as it requires information about the material strength of the body being impacted for an accurate answer.

I approximated the asteroid as a sphere (as I was given a diameter) and calculated the mass and the kinetic energy which I got to be : 2.875*10^27 Joules. However, the mass* impact strength is four orders of magnitude less.


I guess I'm not entirely sure how to approach this problem. Any suggestions?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I do not understand the question. It specifies the radius, density and impact velocity, yet asks for a maximum wrt … what? What other parameter can be varied that affects the impact?
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Asteroid Impact Crater Size: Function of Diameter
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Australian Tektite Source Crater Identified
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Atmospheric Heating from Meteorite Impact
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad Calculating Radius of Crater from Meteor Impact
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Asteroid Response Help: Get Answers to Your Questions Here
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
The energy of debris ejected from an asteroid impact
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
Graduate How do I calculate the rate constant units for excitation by electron impact?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Undergrad How to calculate the impact of a police K9
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K
Undergrad How to Calculate force exerted on a falling body?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Undergrad Modeling a (rotating) mass impact on a preloaded (rotational) spring
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K