This homework assignment is based on reading the article entitled "Asteroid Impact" from the November-December 2002 issue of Mercury magazine. The article will be distributed in class. Read the article and answer the following questions. Your answers MUST be typed. As usual, the homework will be due at 10:30 am on the due date.
Here are a few reminders:
1) What is limiting size of an asteroid that would require action if it were discovered to be headed for an impact with the Earth? (4 points)
2) Why is it important to explore Near-Earth Objects with spacecraft? (4 points)
3) The article discusses several possible tactics for diverting an asteroid if it were discovered to be on a collision course with Earth. Describe at least three of them. (6 points)
4) Why does a small comet represent more of a threat if it impacted Earth than a small asteroid? Why is the total threat from comets only about 25% of the overall impact threat? (6 points)
5) Explain what happened on Earth immediately following the K/T impact 65 million years ago. (5 points)