A Defense Against Asteroids
Páginas: 3 (612 palabras)
Publicado: 7 de septiembre de 2011
Sanchez 1
Juan Sanchez
Professor Morell
NS 304 Technology, and Society
17 July 2011
A Defense against Asteroids
We have seen many times on the big screen, scientists discovering alarge asteroid directed towards Earth and the only hope for mankind is to send a team of astronauts to make a nuclear device inside the asteroid. After several scares and tense moments, the team issuccessful and the asteroid explodes into a thousand pieces. The Earth is saved again from total destruction. Sure we all already know what movies we're talking about, and the truth is that it makes itseem relatively easy. “www.planetary.org” The logic behind it is simple. If a nuclear weapon can destroy a city in a few seconds without a problem, you can do exactly the same with an asteroidapproaching Earth. It is not that simple, for starters the asteroids can be found in all sizes and shapes. The largest known has 900 kilometers in diameter, while the smallest known measures approximately 6meters.
An asteroid that is wider than 10 kilometers in diameter is considered a classification of extinction. Another way that one can view that asteroid is stating it is powerful enough to destroyany trace of life on planet Earth if it were to collide. Technically, a nuclear bomb could make an asteroid smaller, but aren't these smaller asteroids just as dangerous and still endanger survivalof
Sanchez 2
the Earth. A bomb would be truly destructive, but not enough to completely eliminate. A bomb could cause damage to the asteroid but not enough to neutralize the danger. A NASA reportreleased a few years ago stated, putting a nuclear device in the interior of an asteroid, could result in producing smaller which pieces that are just as dangerous to Earth.
Therefore, while it istrue that a nuclear bomb could be used to destroy a small asteroid, it is unlikely that world leaders will spend huge resources on a task like this. For a large asteroid, a single bomb would not...
Juan Sanchez
Professor Morell
NS 304 Technology, and Society
17 July 2011
A Defense against Asteroids
We have seen many times on the big screen, scientists discovering alarge asteroid directed towards Earth and the only hope for mankind is to send a team of astronauts to make a nuclear device inside the asteroid. After several scares and tense moments, the team issuccessful and the asteroid explodes into a thousand pieces. The Earth is saved again from total destruction. Sure we all already know what movies we're talking about, and the truth is that it makes itseem relatively easy. “www.planetary.org” The logic behind it is simple. If a nuclear weapon can destroy a city in a few seconds without a problem, you can do exactly the same with an asteroidapproaching Earth. It is not that simple, for starters the asteroids can be found in all sizes and shapes. The largest known has 900 kilometers in diameter, while the smallest known measures approximately 6meters.
An asteroid that is wider than 10 kilometers in diameter is considered a classification of extinction. Another way that one can view that asteroid is stating it is powerful enough to destroyany trace of life on planet Earth if it were to collide. Technically, a nuclear bomb could make an asteroid smaller, but aren't these smaller asteroids just as dangerous and still endanger survivalof
Sanchez 2
the Earth. A bomb would be truly destructive, but not enough to completely eliminate. A bomb could cause damage to the asteroid but not enough to neutralize the danger. A NASA reportreleased a few years ago stated, putting a nuclear device in the interior of an asteroid, could result in producing smaller which pieces that are just as dangerous to Earth.
Therefore, while it istrue that a nuclear bomb could be used to destroy a small asteroid, it is unlikely that world leaders will spend huge resources on a task like this. For a large asteroid, a single bomb would not...
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