Question

The asteroid 2008 AF4 has one chance in 21,000 of hitting the Earth between the years 2078 and 2100. The asteroid is 390 meters in diameter compared to 250 meters in diameter for Apophis. Assuming that an impact could cause the death of 30,000,000 people the average death rate for this type of event is approximately(A) 3000 people per event.(B) 500 people per event.(C) 1500 people per event.(D) 2000 people per event.(E) 2500 people per event.

Answer 1

C. 1500 people per event

Step-by-step explanation:

The probability of the asteroid hitting earth is one in 21,000.

Mathematically, that can be represented as
`(1)/(21,000)`.

assuming the impact could cause a death of 30,000,000.

The average death rate for this kind of event if it occurs can be got by multiplying the probability of the event occurring by the death rate.

=
`(1)/(21,000)` × 30,000 = 1,428.57

≈ 1500 people per event. (an approximate answer was required by the question)

This means that, approximately 1500 people will be killed if the event were to occur once.