An Asteroid Approaches Earth So That When It Is Very

question 35

Multiple Choice

An asteroid approaches Earth so that when it is very far away it is traveling with a speed of 6500 m/s along a line that would miss the center of Earth by 8,500,000 m. Because of the gravitational attraction of Earth, it departs from this straight line and curves towards Earth, colliding with it. What is the speed of the asteroid when it hits Earth? The mass of Earth is
5) 97 × 10²⁴ kg and G = 6.67 x 10^-11 N·m²/kg².

• A) 11400 m/s
• B) 12900 m/s
• C) 13700 m/s
• D) 15800 m/s
• E) 16400 m/s

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Definitions:

Mass Incarceration

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