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Name:  John S.
Status:  other
Age:  30s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1999 - 2000
Question:
Hello,

If the earth is constantly being hit by meteorites over billions years, how will that affect the mass of the earth and our relationship to the sun?

Replies:
While it is true that the earth is constantly being hit by meteorites, their cumulative contribution to the mass of the earth is quite small -- otherwise we wouldn't be here. Estimates of the size of known impact craters indicate that even the big ones were made by collisions with objects of the order of meters.

Vince Calder


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