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2014-09-13 Science & Technology

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Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 12:01|| || Front Page|| [5 views ] Top

#1 This doesn't say anything a solid gold asteroid hitting a Joint Session of Congress while being addressed by the President, does it?

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-09-13 12:54|| 2014-09-13 12:54|| Front Page Top

This doesn't say anything a solid gold asteroid hitting a Joint Session of Congress while being addressed by the President, does it?

It clearly states that gold would belong to the company whose asteroid hit the Joint Session.

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 12:57|| 2014-09-13 12:57|| Front Page Top

#3 Isn't any asteroid that hits a politician solid gold?

Posted by Mike N. 2014-09-13 15:27|| 2014-09-13 15:27|| Front Page Top

#4 It clearly states that gold would belong to the company whose asteroid hit the Joint Session.

I'm glad we cleared that up. Dibs on the wreckage.

Given that a substantial portion of an asteroid ablates on entering the atmosphere, I wonder how large a body you need to start with to end up with enough mass to destroy a large building? Purely a question of scientific curiosity.

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-13 15:40|| 2014-09-13 15:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Ev = M * V **2.
figure out the E you need for eliminating the building, chose an appropriate V for your approaching asteroid and solve for M with some loss factor.

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 15:50|| 2014-09-13 15:50|| Front Page Top

#6 The mass loss was the part I was wondering about. You probably don't need a lot at the end given what I understand to be a V on the order of miles/second

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-13 16:25|| 2014-09-13 16:25|| Front Page Top

#7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 18:38|| 2014-09-13 18:38|| Front Page Top

#8 #6 The mass loss was the part I was wondering about. You probably don't need a lot at the end given what I understand to be a V on the order of miles/second

That's why it would be better to use a comet, and increase the speed substantially. A plasma "bubble" will form around the comet, greatly reducing the ablation. Of course, any comet large enough to make it through the atmosphere would have an impact measured in very large multiples of megatonnage, and cause just about everything from Langley to Baltimore to be destroyed. Kinda like nuclear hand grenades.

Posted by Old Patriot 2014-09-13 20:37|| 2014-09-13 20:37|| Front Page Top

#9 and cause just about everything from Langley to Baltimore to be destroyed.

I'm trying to see the downside here.

(and btw, thanks guys!)

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-13 21:20|| 2014-09-13 21:20|| Front Page Top

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