Looking for trustworthy answers? Westonci.ca is the ultimate Q&A platform where experts share their knowledge on various topics. Connect with a community of experts ready to help you find accurate solutions to your questions quickly and efficiently. Our platform offers a seamless experience for finding reliable answers from a network of knowledgeable professionals.

what is the danger to spacecraft and astronauts from micrometeoroids?

Sagot :

Answer:

Suppose the micrometeoroid weighed 1 g = .001 kg

Suppose also the spacecraft were moving at 18,000 mph (1.5 hrs per rev)

Usually, the smaller particle would be moving but for simplicity suppose that it were stationary wrt the ground

v = 18000 miles / hr * 1500 m/mile / 3600 sec/hr = 7500 m/s

KE = 1/2 * .001 kg * (7500 m)^2 = 28,125 Joules

One can see that 28000 Joules could be damaging amount of energy