UCSB Science Line
Sponge Spicules Nerve Cells Galaxy Abalone Shell Nickel Succinate X-ray Lens Lupine
UCSB Science Line
Home
How it Works
Ask a Question
Search Topics
Webcasts
Our Scientists
Science Links
Contact Information
Why don't asteroids get pulled into Earth's gravity?
Question Date: 2015-05-15
Answer 1:

Actually, there's a small chance that an asteroid will be pulled by Earth's gravity. It's just that these asteroids are usually far away from us (they're mostly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter), and Earth's gravity is not strong enough to affect them. However, once in a while, an asteroid gets a little too close to Earth.

One of the most famous asteroids is the one that struck Earth during the time of the dinosaurs, which scientists have blamed for their extinction. I hope I answered your question. Good luck with your studies!


Answer 2:

Most asteroids are not magnetic, and even they are, the Earth's magnetic field isn't strong enough to grab anything other than charged particles from the sun, which are far more magnetic than any magnet.



Click Here to return to the search form.

University of California, Santa Barbara Materials Research Laboratory National Science Foundation
This program is co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and UCSB School-University Partnerships
Copyright © 2020 The Regents of the University of California,
All Rights Reserved.
UCSB Terms of Use