It looks like Mercury is going to hit Earth

reply to post by NewThor7


In honour of those who asked for some calculations:

The planet Mercury has a mass of 238,500,000,000,000,000,000,000 kg.

To accelerate it to 1 km/h would require a force of 3,975,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Newtons, applied for one hour.

If Mercury was at its closest (77,000,000 km) it would then take more than 8,789 years to traverse the distance from its current orbit, to Earth's orbit. If the relative positions of Earth & Mercury were at their furthest extent (222,000,000 km) it would take more than 25,342 years to get to the Earth's orbit.

Ignoring the fact that the Earth is also most likely to be in another position when Mercury would cross its orbit (Earth's diameter is approx 12,756 km but the diameter of the orbit of the Earth is about 300,000,000 km, not to mention the likelihood that Mercury may not stay on the orbital plane of the Earth and because Mercury's diameter is only a small fraction of the diameter of the Earth, Mercury's diameter can be ignored), the whole premise in the OP is ludicrous.

The numbers are extremely huge and the likelihood therefore inversely infinitessimal.

reply to post by chr0naut

Ignoring the fact that the Earth is also most likely to be in another position when Mercury would cross its orbit

You're not getting off that easy. You started it. Now finish it. And show your work!


There are times when just saying no is enough.

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by chr0naut

 

Ignoring the fact that the Earth is also most likely to be in another position when Mercury would cross its orbit

You're not getting off that easy. You started it. Now finish it. And show your work!


There are times when just saying no is enough.

edit on 2/12/2013 by Phage because: (no reason given)

Please sir, can I be excused,

... My brain is full.

... The dog ate my homework.

... I just guessed, there is no working.

... I just Googled it.

or, basic Newtonian physics. Nothing a high school graduate couldn't also solve for themselves.

or, I built a scale model and measured everything, I'll upload the photo when I can travel far enough into space to get the whole thing in to the picture.

MATH?

lol

At what rate did matter travel and expand during the Big Bang?

I love you all.
I forgive you all.
Now let us dance and sing!

your pal,

T

Originally posted by NewThor7
MATH?

lol

At what rate did matter travel and expand during the Big Bang?

I love you all.
I forgive you all.
Now let us dance and sing!

your pal,

T

...and that's it? But, but, but some of us came here for an ARGUMENT!
2nd
3rd

reply to post by Lichter daraus

I grew up long ago...long enough not to have to say "grow up!" to anyone. Especially when Im right.
Thanks MS

reply to post by F4guy


LOL! Exactly!

IRM

I really hope this was just a troll and no one actually thinks it looks like Mercury is heading for the Earth. If anyone's worried, it neither looks like it, nor is likely to happen.