2) Estimate how much energy would be deposited into the Earth if it is hit by a

Question

2) Estimate how much energy would be deposited into the Earth if it is hit by a one tonne meteor traveling on an orbit around the Sun with a semi-major axis of 20.0 A.U. Note: in order to hit the Earth this meteor can not be in a circular orbit. Consider two cases: At the point of impact (a) the meteor is traveling parallel and in the same direction as the Earth's orbit and (b) the meteor is traveling parallel and in the opposite direction. The velocity of an orbiting body was given in Module 3(c). A tonne is 1000 kg, the kinetic energy is given by ½ mass x velocity, and the Earth's orbital velocity is approximately 30.0 km/s. (Marks: 4) Note on this question - there is no need to get very elaborate in your calculations, looking in detail at collision dynamics you will have learned in a Physics course. Kinetic energy is not conserved. Momentum is conserved but the change in the Earth's velocity is essentially zero as a result of the collision (because of the enormous difference in masses) You can safely deal with this by asking how much kinetic energy, in the frame of the Earth, is lost in the change in motion of the particles that make up the meteor.

Explanation / Answer

The Solar System probably started as a disk of material in orbit around the (proto-)Sun, some of which ended up condensing into the planets. Estimate the average (number/meter) density of atoms in this disk under the following assumptions: (i) the total mass was 10 times that of the total mass of the planets, (ii) all atoms are hydrogen, (iii) the inner edge of the disk was at 0.30 A.U.

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