Speed of Earth After Head-on Collision with Meteor

What speed would a meteor give Earth in a head-on collision?

Given the data, what would be the speed of Earth after a head-on collision with a meteor?

Speed of Earth After Head-on Collision with Meteor

The speed of Earth after a head-on collision with a meteor with a mass of 8.66×10^13 kg and a speed of 9900 m/s is approximately -1.43×10^-8 m/s.

It's incredible to think about the impact of a meteor colliding with Earth. In this scenario, the mass and speed of the meteor are crucial factors in determining the resulting speed of Earth after the collision.

When a meteor of 8.66×10^13 kg traveling at a speed of 9900 m/s collides head-on with Earth, the conservation of momentum principle comes into play. In such a collision, the momentum of the meteor before impact is equal to the momentum of Earth after the collision.

By applying the equation for momentum (mass * velocity), we can calculate the speed of Earth post-collision. With the massive mass of Earth compared to the meteor, the final speed is determined to be approximately -1.43×10^-8 m/s, indicating a minuscule but impactful change in Earth's velocity due to the collision.

This scenario highlights the dynamic nature of celestial events and the intricate calculations involved in understanding the consequences of such collisions. Despite the seemingly negative outcome, it sparks curiosity about the vast universe and the forces that shape our planet's trajectory.