Would chunks (nice technical term) over a wider area create less overall global damage than one large object? Perhaps. I don't know. Maybe with sufficient warning test probes could first be sent to examine the structure of the object to see if a direct nuke would work.
I once made the argument that more chunks = more surface area for more of the stuff to burn up in the atmosphere. . . but then as I suspected X amount of energy = x amount of energy regardless of whether or not it goes into the atmospherer or the ground! So I guess the more it burns up in the atmosphere the more we are simply incinerated rather than rained on by hot ash and debris.
But I would think more chunks is good if you can get them to hit at different time. . . say within days then I'd say things would look better. . . many smaller impacts over time would let the earth absorb the energy slowly.
-Justin Kelly
Space/Science » in reply to Shake it, don't break it
Re: Shake it, don't break it