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Chapter 12: Problem 17

It is becoming more common for people, houses, and so on to be hit by meteorites. The reason for this increase in meteorite strikes is probably that a. there are more meteorites. b. humans cover more of Earth. c. records of meteorite impacts have improved significantly in the last decade. d. records of ancient meteorite strikes have disintegrated.

Short Answer

Expert verified
b. humans cover more of Earth.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Options

Read each of the given options carefully to understand what each one suggests. The increase in meteorite strikes can possibly be linked to one of these factors.
02

Analyze Option a

Option a suggests that the number of meteorites has increased. However, there is no significant scientific evidence to support a sudden increase in the number of meteorites.
03

Analyze Option b

Option b suggests that humans cover more of Earth. As human population and settlement areas expand, the likelihood of human encounters with meteorites increases.
04

Analyze Option c

Option c suggests that records of meteorite impacts have improved. Improved documentation would indeed explain why more meteorite strikes are reported.
05

Analyze Option d

Option d suggests that records of ancient meteorite strikes have disintegrated. This does not directly explain the current increase in meteorite strikes.
06

Conclusion

The most logical explanation is a combination of Option b and Option c: Humans cover more of Earth, and improved records make it easier to note meteorite strikes. Therefore, the best single answer is Option b.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Human Population Expansion
Human population expansion refers to the increase in the number of people living on Earth and the spread of human settlements. As more people occupy larger areas, the chances of encountering meteorites increase. When humans spread into new regions, they build more houses and infrastructure, effectively covering more of Earth's surface. This expansion means:

  • A higher probability that meteorites will hit populated areas.
  • More people are present to notice and report meteorite impacts.
  • Increased risk of property damage due to falling meteorites.
This concept helps us understand why it seems that there are more meteorite strikes affecting humans and their properties. Essentially, it's not necessarily that meteorite activity has increased, but rather that human activity has expanded, leading to more frequent encounters with meteorites.
Improved Impact Records
With advancements in technology and better scientific methods, our ability to record meteorite impacts has significantly improved. In the past, meteorite impacts might have gone unrecognized or underreported due to a lack of proper documentation tools. However, in recent decades, several factors have contributed to improved records of meteorite impacts:

  • Enhanced observation technologies, such as satellites and radar systems, which can detect meteorites entering Earth's atmosphere.
  • Widespread access to digital platforms, allowing people to quickly share information and reports of meteorite sightings.
  • More trained scientists and researchers dedicated to studying meteorite impacts and maintaining accurate records.
These improvements not only help scientists understand meteorite activity better but also make it appear as though there are more meteorite strikes now than before. Essentially, we are simply getting better at noticing and recording these events.
Meteorite Impact Frequency
Meteorite impact frequency refers to how often meteorites hit Earth's surface. While the total number of meteorites reaching Earth might not have changed dramatically, understanding the frequency requires examining a few key points:

  • Meteorites come in all sizes, but most are tiny and burn up in the atmosphere, leaving larger ones to reach the surface.
  • The same human expansion that increases the probability of encounters also means there are more witnesses to report these events.
  • Historical data might be sparse compared to modern records, making ancient meteorite strikes appear less frequent.
When taken together, the perceived increase in meteorite impact frequency can often be attributed to better reporting and documentation, as well as the growing number of people occupying Earth's surface. By analyzing these factors, we can understand that the apparent rise in meteorite strikes isn't necessarily due to more meteorites, but rather more people and better tracking.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How could you and a friend, armed only with your cell phones and a knowledge of the night sky, prove conclusively that meteors are an atmospheric phenomenon?

What are the differences between a comet and a meteor in terms of their size, distance, and how long they remain visible?

T/F: Meteors are typically caused by small pieces of dust falling through the atmosphere.

Most meteors that you see began as meteoroids the size of a. tiny dust grains. b. a pencil. c. a car. d. a house.

One recent estimate concludes that nearly 800 meteorites with mass greater than 100 grams (massive enough to cause personal injury strike the surface of Earth each day. Assuming you present a target of 0.25 square meter \(\left(\mathrm{m}^{2}\right)\) to a falling meteorite, what is the probability that you will be struck by a meteorite during your 100 -year lifetime? (Note that the surface area of Earth is approximately \(5 \times 10^{14} \mathrm{m}^{2} .\) )
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