A QUESTION OF SIZE AND MASS: ASTEROID IMPACT

A QUESTION OF SIZE AND MASS: ASTEROID IMPACT

Question: What would be the approximate mass and velocity of a "rock"
entering the atmosphe
a) in order for it to strike the earth at a terminal velocity of
approximately 55 m/s,
b) weighing (massing) about 45 kilograms?

I am assuming,
1, that the 'rock' (asteroid) would hit the atmosphere, become a
meteor and burn,
2, that the remnant of the meteor would slow due to atmospheric
breaking,
3, that the remaining 'stone' (meteorite) would fall at 100-125 miles
per hour,
4, and hit the earth at about 70 to 100 pounds.

Might we calculate "average range" for mass and velocity that might
produce the specified result?
Since the results will differ for various composition, such as Iron or
nickel, or basalt or hydrogen ice, we might use an average mass/
density, or for kicks and grins, compute a size/mass for each.

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The next part of the problem is, there is not one object (asteroid) or
"stone" -- there are thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions.

This cloud (or "swarm") of asteroids is moving toward the Sun in a
long cloud, so that the earth will pass through the cloud, and
meteorites (stones) may fall on the earth for about 24 hours.

What may be the possible configuration of such a cloud of asteroids?
It may be 25 to 50 thousands, or hundreds of thousands, of miles long,
It may be 25 to 50 thousands of miles in diameter.

What would be the density of the cloud, so that thousands or hundreds
of thousands of meteorites (stones) fall on all of the earth?

Since such a cloud is approaching the earth, when will astronomers
detect it? How long, before it begins to strike the earth, will
Astronomers be able to see it?

If such a cloud were moving directly toward the Sun, such that its
length were aligned toward and away from the sun, so that the earth
would pass through its diameter in 24 hours, how wide would that cloud
be?

Once we get some range of possible answers to these questions, we will
continue to effects.

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Next is the discussion of the approach of a large cloud (or 'swarm')
of small asteroid bodies, and the expected effects.

There are, of course a nearly infinite number of directions. However,
an approach near the plane of the ecliptic seems most reasonable. Four
general directions seem likely: from behind, or following, the
direction of the sun's galactic orbit, or from ahead. The approach may
be from inside the central area of the galaxy, or from outside moving
inward.

If this cloud of asteroids approaches earth from the direction of the
sun, falling bodies would strike the day side of earth. An approach
from the side away from Sol would mean the falling bodies would strike
the night side of earth.

In either case, it seems likely that the approach of the asteroids
should be visible as they strike the planets between the sun, and the
sun, if coming from the sun side of the earth, or the planets outside
earth's orbit if coming from the night side of earth.

That is, if the cloud enters the solar system on the same side of the
sun as the earth, and crosses the orbits of the outer planets, the
impacts of those bodies should be visible to astronomers.

On the other hand, if the cloud enters the solar system on the side of
the sun away from the earth, then impacts on the outer planets should
still be visible to astronomers, and those that fall into the sun
would be visible during the day as comets.

In either case, depending on the velocity of the swarm of asteroids,
the approach should be visible for some time, giving World Governments
and People some time for preparation.

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Last, a discussion of the Effect of Impact. During the time of the
seventh Vial, during the last weeks of Daniel's 70th week, there will
be a rain, or "Hail" of rocks fall on all the earth (assuming for
about twenty-four hours). For most of a night and day meteorites
weighing from 75 to 125 lbs (approximately 45 kg) falling at velocity
from 100 to 125 miles per hour (about 55 ms) may strike every
inhabited area of the world.

This hail of rocks may fall like a cape being drawn along the ground,
so that it covers an area briefly, passes over, then moves on; or this
hail may last for hours over the entire surface of the world.

Every area may or may not be saturated evenly. In some areas as few as
ten or twenty may strike inside a country mile, or a city block, while
other areas may be struck by hundreds. Some, in some areas, may
approach from an angle, while others fall straight down.

These "hail stones" will have an impact force of about 5 to 10,000
foot-pounds. This is roughly equal to being hit by a bullet fired from
a military rifle. The difference is that the bullet makes a little
hole as it passes through, while the stone will just crushes what it
hits.

Not many buildings can withstand the impact of a cannon ball weighing
45 kg fired at 55 m/s. A single impact on any average building will
make a hole in wall or roof, and several impacts may destroy most
small buildings.

Rev 16:21 "And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every
stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of
the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great."

This Plague of Hail will not fall on God's People, but on the world
that rejected God and killed His two witnesses. This fact is revealed
in the words "men blasphemed God..." This is not God's People these
hailstones fall on, but men who will "blaspheme God, and die."


Any Ideas?