What is the shape of an asteroid impact on Earth?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the shape of an asteroid impact on Earth, exploring the nature of orbits and gravitational interactions. Participants delve into the implications of elliptical orbits and the characteristics of different conic sections in the context of celestial mechanics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants explain that elliptical orbits arise from the gravitational field of a spherical mass, with circular orbits being a specific case under precise conditions.
  • Others note that all orbits and many gravitational interactions can be described as conic sections, including parabolic and hyperbolic trajectories.
  • A later reply introduces a question regarding the shape produced by an asteroid colliding with Earth, suggesting a potential exploration of impact shapes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion includes multiple competing views regarding the nature of orbits and their shapes, particularly in relation to gravitational interactions, and remains unresolved regarding the specific shape of an asteroid impact.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference Kepler's laws and the characteristics of conic sections, but do not resolve the implications of these laws on the shape of impacts.

Evenlander
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The Earth's orbit around the Sun is an elliptical orbit. Why is that so?
Does that mean Sun, much like Earth bulged at some points which makes the gravitational force between Earth and Sun stronger at some points and weaker at some comparatively?
 
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No. Elliptical orbits are what you get in the gravitational field of a spherical mass (although detailed models of the solar system do include corrections for the non-sphericity of the Sun). You only get circular orbits if you set an object moving precisely tangentially at exactly the right speed. With other initial conditions they drift closer to and further away from the Sun over the course of an orbit - which means a non-circular orbit that turns out to be an ellipse.
 
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Evenlander said:
The Earth's orbit around the Sun is an elliptical orbit. Why is that so?
Does that mean Sun, much like Earth bulged at some points which makes the gravitational force between Earth and Sun stronger at some points and weaker at some comparatively?

It's Kepler's first law. See, for example:

 
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Evenlander said:
The Earth's orbit around the Sun is an elliptical orbit. Why is that so?
Does that mean Sun, much like Earth bulged at some points which makes the gravitational force between Earth and Sun stronger at some points and weaker at some comparatively?
A circle is just a symmetrical special case of an ellipse, which is also a special case of a "conic section". All orbits and most non-orbit gravitational interactions form one of these shapes. Consider if we send a space probe past an object and it doesn't orbit, but just bends a little and keeps going - that's parabolic or hyperbolic.

ConicSection_1000.gif


Bit of a trick question; what shape do you get if an asteroid collides with Earth?
 

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