According to our textbook, what is the best way to defend ourselves against an asteroid which is on course to collide with the Earth in 7 years?
A) The only thing we could do would be to move some people to the Moon so they could survive
B) If we do it early enough, we could explode something on or near the asteroid to deflect it slightly, so that years later it would then miss the Earth
C) Asteroids are all rubble piles, so the only thing that would protect us would be a huge thermos-nuclear explosion that vaporizes the entire asteroid
D) There is no problem, because all asteroid burn up by friction in the Earth's thick atmosphere
E) There is no possible protection for us; if an asteroid is headed our way, we are all doomed
Section 13.3: The Long-Haired Comets

Question

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According to the textbook, if an asteroid is on course to collide with the Earth in 7 years, the best way to defend ourselves is to explode something on or near the asteroid to deflect it slightly, so that years later it would then miss the Earth. This approach would need to be done early enough to give the asteroid time to change course.

According to Our Textbook, What Is the Best Way to Defend