Two main strategies are employed to deflect an asteroid: destruction or slowing it down by at least 425 s so that the earth can move out of the impact zone. Assume perfect inelastic collision.

(a) If we know the speed of the asteroid (va), mass (ma), and the distance the asteroid is from earth (d), what should the new speed va,new of the asteroid be in order to provide the required 425 s delay?

Hint: Write separate expressions for the time it would take for the asteroid to get here at the original speed and at the new speed. The di�erence between these times needs to be at least 425s, so use this to solve for the new velocity
in terms of the known variables.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't know where to start! Thanks!

ewe