A meteoroid, heading straight for Earth, has a speed of 14.8 km/s relative to the center of Earth as it crosses our moon's orbit, a distance of 3.84 × 10⁸ m from the earth's center. What is the meteoroid's speed as it hits the earth? You can neglect the effects of the moon, Earth's atmosphere, and any motion of the earth. (G = 6.67 × 10^-11 N ∙ m²/kg², Mearth = 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg) A) 18.5 km/s B) 21.5 km/s C) 32.4 km/s D) 87.3 km/s

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is A because the meteoroid's speed increases as it falls toward Earth due to the Earth's gravitational pull.

A Meteoroid, Heading Straight for Earth, Has a Speed of 14.8