2007-03-25 11:28:05 · 12 answers · asked by Mints261 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
I'm told that many meteorites are very cold when they actually impact the earth. After entering the atmosphere at several kph they are slowed, and the smaller ones fall at subsonic speed, through the (very cold) lower stratosphere and then through the troposphere, finally to impact.
Very large meteors, however, are not slowed much by the atmosphere and are hot when they reach ground level.
2007-03-25 13:12:02 · answer #1 · answered by David A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While in space, meteors are very cold, only a few Kelvin.
They would be very hot by the time they actually impact with the Earth's surface. This is due to travel through the Earth's atmosphere. The friction due to the journey causes the meteor to heat up.
This heating problem is a huge concern for spacecraft which have to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere. The space shuttle undercarriage in covered in special heat absorbing tiles to allow it to re-enter and protect the shuttle and it's contents.
2007-03-25 11:33:34 · answer #2 · answered by dudara 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot. Its like on the TV shows, the meteor is on fire when it is going through the atmosphere and then hits the surface. I don't think it would cool down that quickly.
2007-03-25 12:00:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are cold when they HIT the Earth because the fall through the atmosphere at thousands of miles an hour. Thankfully, most burn completely out before hitting the ground.
2007-03-25 11:33:17 · answer #4 · answered by br@ini@c 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot. When the object collides with air molecules it creates friction, which in turn produces heat. This is one of the main reasons you can see meteors in the sky at night.
2007-03-25 11:35:16 · answer #5 · answered by Mercury 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot
They come through the are at hundreds of feet per second. That makes them hot. Oh and impact causes a bunch of friction heat.
2007-03-25 11:42:03 · answer #6 · answered by Groovio 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He desires to have it shown that that's a meteorite, and not in simple terms a random rock. It in simple terms costs approximately $20 or so. a number of the internet pages under have examples of this sort of photos he could take.
2016-12-19 13:46:04 · answer #7 · answered by moh. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i dont think the yactually hit the earth. they go through the atmosphere first, and most of them like 92% of them dont even make it through it. thhey just burn up. but if they do, then they are traveling at such a fast speed and increaseing as it falls, i would think it get as hot as like hte sun man
2007-03-25 12:20:01 · answer #8 · answered by cookiesncream!! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot because it frickin' burns up in the atmosphere....
Thanks for another 2 points.
2007-03-25 12:51:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, since it has been going thrue the earths atmosphere at a high speed I would say yes
2007-03-25 12:04:11 · answer #10 · answered by Breezy3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋