Discussion»Questions»Science and Technology» What do you think would happen if an asteroid -about 4 miles in diameter, speed at 25,000 MPH just missed us by 1000 feet?
It would make Hiroshima look like a picnic. 1000ft is nothing - and at that speed, it wouldn't miss. Less than escape velocity, given zero thrust and losses due to friction, it would be drawn back into Earth's gravity well and strike somewhere else.
When you say “us” are you saying the earth’s atmosphere, the surrounding magnetic field, or the actual surface?
Figuring that an asteroid of that size possesses some amount of it’s own gravity, it would seem to me that upon closing in on the earth’s magnetic field, the two bodies would be drawn together, like 2 magnets, ending catastrophically. See Chicxulub
This post was edited by Don Barzini at August 29, 2019 11:24 AM MDT
Unless the asteroid was a permanent magnet, it would not have a magnetic field. However, asteroids have a high percentage of iron and nickle, therefore The earth's field could have a very small effect.
We would notice. And 1,000 feet is NOT missing. What is that, like about 4 houses and yards? Don't make me laugh. A "bullet" just whizzing by is not the size of what you are talking about. It would carry some wind velocity with it that would move things around here on this planet.
This post was edited by WM BARR . =ABSOLUTE TRASH at August 28, 2019 6:44 PM MDT
It would smash tall buildings, shear off mountains tops and there would be fiery debris falling off and starting a lot of fires in the case of just whizzing close by.
Don Barzini 