Question

The impact of a sufficiently large asteroid or comet is one of the theories that have been put forward to explain why dinosaurs, as well as many other plant and animal species, became extinct 65 million years ago. Why would this extinction-level event have had such a major impact on Life on Earth?

1.The toxic fumes produced meant that the dinosaurs could no longer breathe.
2.It increased the temperature of the planet.
3.It created enormous tidal waves and huge forest fires.
4.It produced dust and other particulates that would block out the sun.

Answer 1

All of the options supplied describe the reasons for the extinction of dinosaurs and other species over 65m years ago.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an impact event happens, the enormous kinetic energy of the asteroid or meteorite – a massive body travelling at high speed – is partly transferred to the Earth but largely converted into heat and sound, creating pressure waves travelling radially outwards from its centre, similar to that of an atom bomb.

As well as this blast created on impact, large amounts of dust can be kicked up into the atmosphere – like a nuclear winter – blocking out sunlight and preventing plants from photosynthesising, which has a knock-on effect to much of the rest of the ecosystem.