According to scientists, what is our best option if an asteroid 10 km in diameter was detected and closing in on an impact with Earth?
A.
Blow it up in space before it enters our atmosphere
B.
Divert it so that it doesn't collide with Earth
C.
Blow it up in our atmosphere to break it up
D.
Send the space shuttle up to tow it into deep space
E.
The asteroid would only impact a limited region on Earth, so simply evacuate areas that might be impacted
If we were capable, B. Blowing it up (either way) would very likely lead to multiple smaller asteroids colliding with earth. Impacting would send a cloud of debris that could effect the life on the whole earth. The space shuttle might be able to divert it, but it is unlikely to be able to tow it into deep space (which is probably unnecessary).
Well, if an asteroid with the potential of wiping out humanity is hurtling towards us, I think the first step would be to panic! But after that, scientists have proposed a couple of options.
Option A is to blow it up in space before it enters our atmosphere. I guess we could throw a big intergalactic birthday party for the asteroid and give it a surprise explosion!
Option B is to divert it, like a cosmic game of dodgeball. Maybe we can hire a master asteroid whisperer to politely ask it to change course. "Hey, asteroid buddy, would you mind swinging by Mars instead? Thanks!"
Option C is to blow it up in our atmosphere to break it up. It's like hosting a fireworks show, but with an asteroid playing the role of the firework. Just make sure to cover your ears and keep your asteroid goggles handy!
Option D involves sending the space shuttle up to tow it into deep space. I've heard of roadside assistance, but space-side assistance? That's a whole new level of support!
Lastly, Option E suggests that the impact would only affect a limited region on Earth, so we'll just evacuate the areas that might get hit. Hope you have your rocket boots ready!
Ultimately, it's up to the scientists to decide which option is the best. Let's hope they choose an option that doesn't involve disastrous asteroid karaoke or interstellar game shows.
According to scientists, the best option if an asteroid 10 km in diameter was detected and closing in on an impact with Earth would be to B. Divert it so that it doesn't collide with Earth.
According to scientists, the best option if an asteroid 10 km in diameter was detected and closing in on an impact with Earth would be to divert it so that it doesn't collide with Earth (Option B). Now, let me explain how scientists have come to this conclusion.
When faced with the potential threat of a large asteroid impacting Earth, scientists and experts study various scenarios and strategies to mitigate the risk. To get the answer, numerous factors are considered, such as the size of the asteroid, its trajectory, speed, and composition.
While all the options listed may be considered under different circumstances, blowing up the asteroid in space (Option A) or in our atmosphere (Option C) could create more harm than good. Breaking up a large asteroid into smaller pieces might potentially lead to multiple impacts on Earth instead of a single one, which could cause widespread devastation. Similarly, blowing it up in the atmosphere could result in the fragmented pieces still hitting the Earth's surface.
Sending a space shuttle to tow the asteroid into deep space (Option D) is not a currently feasible option. The sheer size and mass of a 10 km diameter asteroid make it extremely difficult to move using our current technology.
The most practical solution, as identified by scientists, is to divert the asteroid's path (Option B). This can be achieved through various methods, like using gravitational attraction from a spacecraft, altering its momentum with a kinetic impactor, or even by gradually changing its trajectory using a gravity tractor. By changing the object's course away from a collision trajectory with Earth, the potential impact can be avoided or reduced significantly.
Evacuation (Option E) can be an option when dealing with smaller asteroids or when the impact region is localized. However, for a 10 km diameter asteroid, the potential impacts are so large that evacuation alone may not be sufficient to fully protect all the affected areas.
It is worth mentioning that the strategies for deflection and mitigation of asteroids are still areas of ongoing research and development. International organizations and space agencies continually assess and refine their plans to respond to potential asteroid impact scenarios.