An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics · Problem 22.11

Galaxies — Carroll & Ostlie

Physics — Astrophysics · tunguska-event-asteroid-mass

Problem

Suppose that the Tunguska event was caused by an asteroid colliding with Earth. Assume that the density of the object was 2000 kg m−3^{-3} and that it exploded above the surface of the planet traveling at a rate equal to Earth's escape velocity. If all of the energy of the explosion was derived from the asteroid's kinetic energy, estimate the mass and radius of the impacting body (assume spherical symmetry).

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