Predicting the Size of Impact Craters
When an asteroid hits Earth, the amount of damage it causes depends primarily on the asteroid’s kinetic energy, which is given by the equation:
KE = ½ mv 2
In this equation KE is the kinetic energy of the asteroid, m is the mass of the asteroid, and v is its velocity. Note that the velocity is squared in the equation.
The table lists the masses and velocities of three asteroids.
| Asteroid #1 | Asteroid #2 | Asteroid #3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mass | 25,000 kg | 15,000 kg | 15,000 kg |
| Velocity | 15,000 m/s | 25,000 m/s | 15,000 m/s |
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