# An iron meteor the size of an apples hits earth at .9 c. What are the effects? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 17, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469 "2013-01-17T04:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469/21 "2013-01-18T03:32:43Z")
> [@Learjeff](#): > > I see what you did there. Thanks. As a japester I’m ridden with self-doubt. I know you’re out there 'cause I can hear you breathing sort of wraps it up, often. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469/22 "2013-01-18T08:06:26Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Start with a [baseball](http://what-if.xkcd.com/1/) … From that link: > [@](#): > > Everything within roughly a mile of the park is leveled, and a firestorm engulfs the surrounding city. The baseball diamond is now a sizable crater, centered a few hundred feet behind the former location of the backstop. > > A careful reading of official Major League Baseball Rule 6.08(b) suggests that in this situation, the batter would be considered “hit by pitch”, and would be eligible to advance to first base. Perhaps this answer should be checked by baseball experts in The Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469/23 "2013-01-18T14:23:57Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Is it even possible for a solid object with a substantive mass to be imparted that degree of acceleration without disintegrating? This assumes the .9c would necessarily have to be imparted by a one time kinetic explosion or push of some kind not a continuous acceleration over time like a spacecraft. Certainly at this point the molecular binding energy is insignificant, and the math treats the object as a plasma of atoms. And I doubt that there are any natural processes that could achieve that sort of speed without turning the mass into a plasma. > [@septimus](#): > > From that link: > > > [@](#): > > > > A careful reading of official Major League Baseball Rule 6.08(b) suggests that in this situation, the batter would be considered “hit by pitch”, and would be eligible to advance to first base. > > Perhaps this answer should be checked by baseball experts in The Game Room. Well, I certainly think the case could be made for the batter _diffusing_ to first base 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Don\_t\_Call\_Me\_Shirley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Call_Me_Shirley)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469/24 "2013-01-18T15:22:04Z")
n/m ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469/25 "2013-01-18T15:28:55Z")
> [@astro](#): > > Is it even possible for a solid object with a substantive mass to be imparted that degree of acceleration without disintegrating? This assumes the .9c would necessarily have to be imparted by a one time kinetic explosion or push of some kind not a continuous acceleration over time like a spacecraft. Why that assumption? Most of the science fiction I’ve read regarding relativistic kinetic energy weapons (as WMDs, essentially) make a point of taking about how long it would take to get to speed. They’re envisioned as interplanetary weapons, perhaps interstellar-range, where you have days or years to get them up to speed using whatever reaction drive technology you have which is capable of getting to relativistic speeds. (Targeting is another issue, but since planets aren’t very maneuverable, a good ephemeris is probably all you need.) ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469/26 "2013-01-18T15:33:36Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Certainly at this point the molecular binding energy is insignificant, and the math treats the object as a plasma of atoms. And I doubt that there are any natural processes that could achieve that sort of speed without turning the mass into a plasma. Well, I certainly think the case could be made for the batter _diffusing_ to first base 😉 Unless the process were bounded, that’s illegally moving outside the runner’s path. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-iron-meteor-the-size-of-an-apples-hits-earth-at-9-c-what-are-the-effects/647469.md?page=1)