How fast do asteroids travel? - ProProfs Discuss
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How fast do asteroids travel?

Asked by G. dorgon, Last updated: Apr 20, 2024

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2 Answers

G. Horace

G. Horace

G. Horace
G. Horace, Content Developer, Chicago

Answered Apr 28, 2020

The correct answer to this question is 20 to 25 kilometers per second. When orbiting the sun, asteroids travel extremely fast. There are many factors that can dictate how slow or fast an asteroid is moving. One of the factors is the gravitational effect that the stars or planets around the asteroids have.

Their high speeds are a worry for many scientists because they believe that a collision is on the horizon, which would make the asteroid hit Earth. If this occurred, the level of destruction that would occur be enormous and detrimental to Earth. Some scientists predict an asteroid to hit in 2036.

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K. Parker

K. Parker

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K. Parker
K. Parker, Philanthropist, Postgraduate, Cambridge

Answered Mar 22, 2020

Asteroids travel pretty fast when orbiting the sun. A typical asteroid travels with a speed of 20 to 25 kilometers per second. While an average asteroid moves with this speed, there are some factors that can determine how fast or slow an asteroid will move.

Asteroids usually have their speeds assisted by the gravitational effect of the planet or stars that are around them. It is due to the nature of their speed that scientists are seriously worried about a possible collision that could occur if asteroids that exist in the main asteroid belt manage to hit the earth. The level of destruction that would be recorded will definitely be huge.

According to reports, this possible collision is likely to occur by 2036 as an asteroid known as Apophis is already coming close to the Earth, and the region it is moving to is where we have most of our satellites.

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