How to Calculate Asteroid Impact
What is Asteroid Impact?
Asteroid impact calculator estimates energy release, crater size, and environmental effects based on impact velocity, size, and composition.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1Input asteroid diameter/mass and impact velocity
- 2Calculate kinetic energy and TNT equivalent
- 3Estimate crater size and damage radius
Worked Examples
Input
10 km asteroid, 20 km/s impact velocity
Result
10¹⁸ J energy (100 million megatons TNT), extinction-level event
65 Mya extinction
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕Neglecting gravity assist effects
- ✕Assuming all velocity energy transfers to crater
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate impact energy?
KE = 0.5 × m × v²; smaller changes in v have dramatic effects.
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