Many scientists believe that such a collision 65 million years ago led to the extinction of dinosaurs. Last fall, a NASA robot ship flew within six kilometers of the asteroid, Eros. Risk of Collision Scientists use the Torino Scale to evaluate the risk of a collision between an approaching asteroid and Earth. The scale maps the asteroid's estimated kinetic energy against the probability that a collision will occur. Where the object falls on this map determines on a scale of 0 to 10 how serious a risk an NEO poses.
Kinetic energy is one of the major factors in determining the possible risk in case of collision.
Students are introduced to kinetic energy in the Middle School Gateways activity, Potential and Kinetic Energy . Students can learn more about kinetic energy during collisions in the Physics Explorer activity, Collisions . Asteroid Risk Hazards a. A large asteroid crashing into Earth would send a significant amount of dust and gases into the atmosphere surrounding the entire planet. Scientists believe that it could take up to two years for the dust to settle.