Question

1. asteroid deflection

questions: explain how nasas plan to shoot an asteroid with a heavy spacecraft could be used to deflect an asteroid away from earth?
choose the best rule or law to use for this phenomenon. explain the rule or law below.
newtons 1st law newtons 2nd law newtons 3rd law

Explanation:

Newton's 2nd Law states \(F = ma\) (force equals mass times acceleration). When a heavy spacecraft shoots an asteroid, the force applied by the spacecraft on the asteroid (\(F\)) will cause an acceleration (\(a\)) of the asteroid (since \(a=\frac{F}{m}\), where \(m\) is the mass of the asteroid). This acceleration can change the asteroid's velocity and thus its trajectory, deflecting it away from Earth. Newton's 1st Law is about an object's state of motion (rest or uniform motion) unless a force acts on it, which is more about the general concept of force - motion relationship but not as directly related to calculating the change in motion (deflection) as the 2nd Law. Newton's 3rd Law is about action - reaction pairs (e.g., asteroid exerts a force on the spacecraft and vice - versa), but it doesn't directly explain the deflection (change in the asteroid's motion) as much as the 2nd Law.

Answer:

Newton's 2nd Law