[meteorite-list] Carancas Bull

From: Bob Loeffler <bobl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:18:58 -0600
Message-ID: <20090322191857.70FCA1053C_at_mailwash5.pair.com>

Hi Walter, Darryl, et al,

> Keep it simple. Did the meteorite itself actually hit something?

This is exactly the point (and question) that I was trying to make. For it
to be called a hammer, does the meteorite itself have to physically strike a
human, animal or human artifact? In my opinion, it does have to. If the
meteorite hits the ground and creates a crater/pit and a chunk of
terrestrial rock flies up and hits a person on the head, I don't consider
that a hammer. If a person gets knocked down from a meteorite's shock wave
(that resonates through the air or ground), that is not a hammer, in my
opinion. I think the damage (major or minor) must be created DIRECTLY by
the meteorite, not indirectly (i.e. air pressure, ground tremors, flying
terrestrial material, etc).

The discussion above is for general clarification of hammers. As for
Carancas, if it hit a man-made spring/watering hole, then it is a hammer. I
didn't know about the spring, so I previously thought that it was only
classified as a hammer because of it killing one or more animals, or
knocking a guy off his feet, or something hitting the metal roof of that
building. None of those have been proven to be directly caused by the
meteorite itself, as far as I have read, so that's why I wasn't sure if
Carancas was a hammer.

Regards,

Bob



-----Original Message-----
From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of Walter
Branch
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 5:59 PM
To: Darryl Pitt
Cc: Meteorite Mailing List
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Carancas Bull

The problem is where you draw the distinction.
What about a person or animal who is not killed by the shock wave but may by

thrown the ground, either by compressed air or ground movement? Would that
meteorite be considered a "hammer?"

What about sound waves that travel through the air as a meteorite flies
overhead and reach a human eardrum, thus producing a "sound?" Technically,
the compressed air impacted a human eardrum, so would that meteorite be
considered a "hammer."

What about a clod of dirt thrown up in the impact, hitting someone's shoe?

Speaking only for myself, I draw a distinction between a person, animal or
man-made object who is actually hit, or makes physical contact with the
meteorite vs. not. Nothing, more.

Besides, one could also argue that neither the blast wave nor the bomb
actually killed our hypothetical person. It was the bomber who actually
killed the person. Then we open up another can of worms, so-to-speak.

Keep it simple. Did the meteorite itself actually hit something?

My advert: Above fueled by fruit punch from ye old Piggly Wiggly (it's a
grocery store chain here in the southeast US)

No foolin' :-)


-Walter
Received on Sun 22 Mar 2009 03:18:58 PM PDT