Asteroids are harder and more difficult to destroy than initially thought

In many science fiction movies the main theme addresses the problem of an asteroid heading towards Earth and requiring to be destroyed.  But in reality, asteroids appear to be tougher than previously thought, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers who have used a new theory on rock fracture and a new computer model to simulate asteroids destruction trials.

Asteroids, harder and tougher than thought (pic: NASA)

The discovery, which has been published on March 15 in Icarus, may help humans devise new collision avoidance strategies, get more in-depth understanding of Solar System formation and develop strategies to exploit these asteroids.
It improves best prices on cialis vitality and vigor. Due to its aphrodisiac properties, it can improve your buy cialis india mental and sexual health too. The other drug tab viagra that you might Purchase is Apcalis jelly that has quicker results in increasing sexual urge. It is not possible to levitra in uk get an erection without any stress or hassles.
“We used to believe that the larger the object, the more easily it would break, because bigger objects are more likely to have flaws. However, our findings show that asteroids are harder than we thought, and require more energy to be destroyed,” said Charles El Mir, the lead author of the paper.

Researchers have reached this conclusion after using a computer model. The simulation was divided into two phases: a fragmentation step and a gravitational re-accumulation step. The first phase take into account the short-timescale processes that begin in split second after the asteroid is struck. The second phase takes into account the longer-lasting effects of gravity on pieces that fly off the surface of the asteroid after impact, with gravitational re-accumulation taking place over many hours after impact.