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Chapter 15: Problem 13

What are near-Earth objects? What is the evidence that the Earth has been struck by these objects?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Near-Earth Objects are comets and asteroids that can come into close proximity with the Earth due to their orbits. Evidence that Earth has been struck by these objects includes impact craters, certain minerals like tektites and microscopic diamonds, and large-scale extinction events. These objects are currently tracked by several observatories worldwide.

Step by step solution

01

Explanation of Near-Earth Objects

Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) are comets and asteroids that have been nudged by the gravitational attraction of nearby planets into orbits that allow them to enter the Earth's neighborhood. Generally, they are larger than 1 kilometer in size. Comets are made of ice, dust, and organic compounds, while asteroids are made up mostly of rock and metal.
02

Evidence of Earth's Collision with Near-Earth Objects

There are several tell-tale signs that indicate that the Earth has been struck by these objects. The most clear-cut evidence is the existence of impact craters on Earth's surface, such as the famous 1.2 kilometer Meteor Crater in Arizona. In addition, certain minerals can also indicate a meteor impact, like tektites and microscopic diamonds. Large-scale extinction events like the one that wiped out the dinosaurs are also believed, based on various geological evidences, to have been caused by the impact of a large NEO.
03

Explanation of how Near-Earth Objects are Tracked

The tracking of NEOs is carried out by several observatories who continuously monitor the sky for new objects, and compute their orbits. Identification and tracking of NEOs are important to assess the potential threat they could pose to our planet.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

. In the 1998 movie Armageddon, an asteroid "the size of Texas" is on a collision course with Earth. The asteroid is first discovered by astronomers just 18 days prior to impact. To avert disaster, a team of astronauts blasts the asteroid into two pieces just 4 hours before impact. Discuss the plausibility of this scenario. (Hint: On average, the state of Texas extends for about \(750 \mathrm{~km}\) from north to south and from east to west. How does this compare with the size of the largest known asteroids?)

Search the World Wide Web to find out why some scientists disagree with the idea that a tremendous impact led to the demise of the dinosaurs. (They do not dispute that the impact took place, only what its consequences were.) What are their arguments? From what you learn, what is your opinion?

Is there anywhere on the Earth where you might find large numbers of stony meteorites that are not significantly weathered? If so, where? If not, why not?

Suppose astronomers discover that a near-Earth object the size of 1994 XM1 is on collision course with Earth. Describe what humanity could do within the framework of present technology to counter such a catastrophe.

Why do the ion tail and dust tail of a comet point in different directions?
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