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Dinosaur Killer Asteroid

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Estimate the total energy released when a spherical ``Dinosaur Killer'' asteroid with a density $\rho = 10$ kg/m$^3$ and radius $R = 1000$ meters falls onto the surface of the earth from ``outer space'' (far away). Obviously your answer should be justified by a good physical argument.

Note that this is a lot of energy - more than enough to wipe out all life within perhaps 1000 km of the point of impact (or more) and to change the climate of the planet.



Robert G. Brown 2000-12-09