Quote:
|
Originally Posted by tellumFS
So NPR Science Friday is having an episode about all-life-on-Earth-killing comets and asteroids.
I caught that certain sized objects do damage. OK. But, does it matter what the object is made out of? Would an ice ball burn up more than an asteroid/comet made up of rock?
|
Does it matter if the 1 m^3 object falling on you is made out of lead or aluminum? No, cause either way your gonna die.
What if it's made out of lots of little copper BB's? Then it matters.
It mainly depends on whether the object is going to stay in one peice one entry into the atmosphere or shatter into thousands of smaller pieces. Once the object reaches a certain mass it doesn't matter what it's made out of, if it hits the Earth, say goodbye to humanity. But if the object breaks up into thousands of smaller pieces, it may devastate a large area, but it won't have the same effect as one huge piece.