Question

Assume the Chicxulub crater was caused by a comet of radius 10km and density 2000kgm-3 arriving at the Earth 65 million years ago. If all its energy was deposited into the Atlantic ocean, which as a volume of 3.55e8km3 estimate the temperature rise?

Answer 1

First we need to find its kinetic energy

K.E = 1/2 Mv²   ( Let's assume the comet moved at the speed equal to earth's orbital speed)

M = density * volume

consider this comet as a perfect sphere,, its volume V = 4/3*pi*r³ = 4.188e12 m³

so, M = 2000*4.188e12 = 8.377e15 kg

K.E = 1/2*8.377e15*30000²

K.E = 3.769e24 joules

Temperature rise = K.E / m*specific heat of water

Temperature rise = K.E / density of sea water*volume*specific heat of water

Temperature rise = 3.769e24 / 1027*3.55e17*4186

Temperature rise = 2.47 kelvin