Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion, calculated using the formula KE = 0.5 * m * v^2, where m is mass and v is velocity. In this scenario, the asteroid's kinetic energy is crucial for determining how much energy is transferred to the ocean upon impact, specifically the portion that contributes to boiling the water.
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Energy Transfer
Energy transfer refers to the process of energy moving from one system to another. In this case, the kinetic energy of the asteroid is partially converted into thermal energy, which heats the ocean water. Understanding this concept is essential to calculate how much water can be boiled based on the energy released during the collision.
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Specific Heat Capacity
Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a unit mass of a substance by one degree Celsius. For water, this value is approximately 4.18 J/g°C. This concept is vital for determining how much water can be heated to its boiling point using the energy transferred from the asteroid, allowing us to calculate the mass of water that will boil away.
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