How a Nuclear Explosion Can Fragment a Rubble-Pile Asteroid When a nuclear explosion occurs near a small rubble-pile asteroid (about 1 = km in diameter), the intense burst of radiation=E2=80=94primarily X-rays an= d gamma rays=E2=80=94rapidly heats and vaporizes the surface material facin= g the blast. This process, known as ablation, causes the ejection of vapori= zed material towards the explosion, generating a reactive force that pushes= the asteroid in the opposite direction. In rubble-pile asteroids, which ar= e loosely held together by weak gravitational and cohesive forces, this sud= den force can exceed the asteroid's gravitational binding energy=E2=80=94th= e energy keeping it intact. If the energy absorbed from the explosion surpa= sses this binding energy, the internal stresses can cause the asteroid to f= ragment, breaking it apart into smaller pieces. Essentially, the energy fro= m the nuclear blast can overcome the weak forces holding the rubble togethe= r, leading to the asteroid's disintegration.

Published: 2024-10-01 09:49:35.243665