"Cockroach's Cosmic Plunge: Surviving a Fall from Space"

1 min read
Source: WIRED
"Cockroach's Cosmic Plunge: Surviving a Fall from Space"
Photo: WIRED
TL;DR

A physicist explores whether a cockroach could survive a fall from space by simplifying the problem and considering the effects of air resistance. Using numerical calculations, it is determined that a cockroach falling from space would reach a terminal velocity of 1.5 meters per second (3.3 mph) upon impact with the Earth. The cockroach's ability to move quickly on the ground suggests it could survive the impact. Additionally, the article discusses the effects of air resistance on different objects, including a tennis ball and a bowling ball, and explores the heating that occurs during the fall.

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