Article

2014-09-13 Science & Technology

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 12:01|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 This doesn't say anything a solid gold asteroid hitting a Joint Session of Congress while being addressed by the President, does it?

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2014-09-13 12:54|| 2014-09-13 12:54|| Front Page Top

This doesn't say anything a solid gold asteroid hitting a Joint Session of Congress while being addressed by the President, does it?

It clearly states that gold would belong to the company whose asteroid hit the Joint Session.

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 12:57|| 2014-09-13 12:57|| Front Page Top

#3 Isn't any asteroid that hits a politician solid gold?

Posted by Mike N. 2014-09-13 15:27|| 2014-09-13 15:27|| Front Page Top

#4 It clearly states that gold would belong to the company whose asteroid hit the Joint Session.

I'm glad we cleared that up. Dibs on the wreckage.

Given that a substantial portion of an asteroid ablates on entering the atmosphere, I wonder how large a body you need to start with to end up with enough mass to destroy a large building? Purely a question of scientific curiosity.

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-13 15:40|| 2014-09-13 15:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Ev = M * V **2.
figure out the E you need for eliminating the building, chose an appropriate V for your approaching asteroid and solve for M with some loss factor.

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 15:50|| 2014-09-13 15:50|| Front Page Top

#6 The mass loss was the part I was wondering about. You probably don't need a lot at the end given what I understand to be a V on the order of miles/second

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-13 16:25|| 2014-09-13 16:25|| Front Page Top

#7 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_bombardment

Posted by 3dc 2014-09-13 18:38|| 2014-09-13 18:38|| Front Page Top

#8 #6 The mass loss was the part I was wondering about. You probably don't need a lot at the end given what I understand to be a V on the order of miles/second

That's why it would be better to use a comet, and increase the speed substantially. A plasma "bubble" will form around the comet, greatly reducing the ablation. Of course, any comet large enough to make it through the atmosphere would have an impact measured in very large multiples of megatonnage, and cause just about everything from Langley to Baltimore to be destroyed. Kinda like nuclear hand grenades.

Posted by Old Patriot 2014-09-13 20:37|| 2014-09-13 20:37|| Front Page Top

#9 and cause just about everything from Langley to Baltimore to be destroyed.

I'm trying to see the downside here.

(and btw, thanks guys!)

Posted by SteveS 2014-09-13 21:20|| 2014-09-13 21:20|| Front Page Top

23:54 Tlbnozmg
23:40 Mujbvioj
23:23 Pappy
22:45 SteveS
22:29 trailing wife
21:58 Frank G
21:45 Barbara
21:20 SteveS
21:09 Jerkface Killa
21:07 Thing From Snowy Mountain
21:04 Frank G
20:38 OldSpook
20:37 Old Patriot
20:32 OldSpook
20:08 trailing wife
19:57 trailing wife
19:03 Herman Munster
19:03 AlmostAnonymous5839
18:59 Bright Pebbles
18:55 mom
18:38 3dc
17:48 Besoeker
17:39 swksvolFF
17:22 phil_b