Quote:
Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile
How much damage did she suffer? Even a small piece would pack a whallop due to the KE involved (KE=1/2mv^2 IIRC). A .220 swift is pretty small too but can kill a deer, 4,000 f/s. Satellite bits could possibly be moving a lot faster...
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they may be moving at 4000 fps in orbit, but after coming through miles of atmosphere, something small will probably be moving much slower.
It's like that old myth about a penny dropped off of < insert tall building here > going right through you if it hit you on the head. Just like a human body, a penny has a terminal velocity, and that velocity is low enough to not even break the skin.
Mythbusters tested the penny thing.
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Steve
'08 Boxster RS60 Spyder #0099/1960
- never named a car before, but this is Charlotte.
'88 targa
SOLD 2004 - gone but not forgotten