When an asteroid approaches Earth and gets slung around the planet, several outcomes can occur depending on various factors:
1. Gravity Assist: If the asteroid approaches at the right angle and speed, it can utilize Earth's gravity to increase or decrease its velocity. This phenomenon, known as a gravity assist or gravitational slingshot, can change the asteroid's trajectory, velocity, and direction.
2. Collision with Earth: In rare cases, if the asteroid's trajectory is altered drastically, it may collide with Earth. However, the probability of this happening is relatively low, as astronomers closely monitor potentially hazardous asteroids and calculate their trajectories.
3. New Solar Orbit: If the asteroid's encounter with Earth alters its velocity, it may result in a new trajectory around the Sun. The gravitational effect of Earth can disturb the asteroid's original orbit and send it into a different path through the solar system. The new orbit may take it closer to other planets, potentially altering its future interactions with them.
4. Multiple Encounters: If the asteroid passes relatively close to Earth, it could undergo multiple gravitational assists over several encounters. Each encounter would modify its trajectory, leading to a complex and unpredictable path through the solar system.
5. Ejection from the Solar System: In rare cases, the gravitational encounter with Earth might impart such a high velocity to the asteroid that it escapes the gravitational pull of the Sun and gets ejected from the solar system completely. These asteroids become interstellar travelers.
It is important to note that the specific outcome for any given asteroid would depend on its size, speed, composition, angle of approach, and its distance and trajectory relative to Earth during the encounter.
as an asteroid approaches earth it is slung around the planet off into a new path through the solar system what might happen to the asteroid?
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