Hello - what is the definition of a meteor? e.g when is it a meteor and when is it not?
2007-02-04 06:32:53 · 8 answers · asked by Robin 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Originally, a meteor was an atmospheric phenomenon. There were hydrometeors - rain, snow, hail, drizzle etc and igneous meeors - lightning, the auroras and shooting stars. The study of atmospheric phenomena was called meteorology.
People who study the atmosphere are still called meteorologists but the meaning of "meteor" has changed and now means just shooting stars - probably the only part of the original meaning that is not studied by meteorologists today.
Shooting stars are particles of rock that burn up in the atmosphere. These could be as small as a grain of sand. If the rock is large enough so that parts of it survive the atmospheric burning, the rock that lands on the surface of the Earth is a meteorite.
2007-02-04 07:13:47 · answer #1 · answered by tentofield 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Meteors, known also as shooting stars, are usually sized from a grain of sand to about a softball. As the meteor enters the Earth's atmosphere it becomes very hot due to friction like when you rub your hands together for a few moments. They become bright and seem to streak across the sky.
When the Earth enters a meteoroid stream left by a comet it produces a meteor shower. These showers can be predicted and come every year or so. They are named after the constellation that the meteors appear to be coming from.
if you want to know what the difference is between meteors, asteriods, and comets are, this website is really useful!
http://www.kidscosmos.org/kid-stuff/asteroid-facts.html
:) x
2007-02-04 14:42:44 · answer #2 · answered by bluebird 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A meteor is the visible path of a meteoroid that enters a planet's atmosphere.
If it is large enough to land, the remaining material is called a meteorite.
2007-02-04 14:39:54 · answer #3 · answered by gebobs 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a meteor, watch the CW's smallville. it's just a hard like substance that disintigrated from an asteroid over the years in space and was just flying around in the universe until it came close to earth so the earth's gravitational pull pulled the peace of meteor to earth. something like that.
2007-02-04 14:37:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A meteor is flying through the atmosphere.
A meteorite is what finally has landed on the ground .
2007-02-04 14:41:24 · answer #5 · answered by gg 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fiery mass of rock from space: a mass of rock from space that burns up after entering the Earth's atmosphere.
2007-02-04 14:44:00 · answer #6 · answered by Scabius Fretful 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever happens to be floating past our atmosphere at the time it gets drawn in.....
2007-02-04 19:23:09 · answer #7 · answered by jax 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gods poo
2007-02-04 15:33:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋