2007-07-17 08:51:05 · 17 answers · asked by dyno 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
This is actually quite a good question; I don't understand why it received so many rude answers.
First you have to realise that a "falling star" is not actually a star but a meteor, a small bit of space debris which encounters the Earth's atmosphere and starts to glow. Some meteors make it through the atmosphere and land on Earth, where they are known as meteorites. Most are quite small, and have cooled off by the time they reach the surface of the Earth, so nobody is going to be burned by them.
The only danger is their kinetic energy: they are small rocks dropping from a great height, so they can do quite a bit of damage. At least two people have been hit by meteorites and have lived to tell the tale; as far as I know, no one has been killed by one. One case was a lady in the US. The meteorite came through her roof and the ceiling of her living room and hit her on the thigh, causing a large bruise, but no permanent damage.
2007-07-17 12:10:27 · answer #1 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
First of all, stars don't fall. Falling stars are really meteors. Second, if you tried to catch one, it'll be hot, and you could get burned. If you wait for it to cool off, you'll have no way to tell whether it's a rock or a meteor. Third, if it's not a small one that got burned up in the atmosphere, and you tried to catch it, you and the rest of humanity will die.
2007-07-17 16:14:09 · answer #2 · answered by S N 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It depends on the size. A falling star is a meteor, a piece of rock from space often the size of a grain of sand. As it comes through the air the friction of the air against it heats it up until it gets so hot it vapourises. hence the name falling or shooting star. If it lands it is a meteorite. When meteorites land they are extremely hot - too hot to handle.
However micrometeorites can be caught as they come to earth whenever it rains and these are easy to catch. Go to the attached website and look at the activity "Meteorite Musters"
2007-07-17 09:30:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
You would be catching a rock, because that is what they really are. Small pieces of dust or rock entering the Earth's atmosphere. Most vaporize high above the ground, but some of the larger ones make it all the way to the ground. It would be like catching a rock dropped from an airplane. If it was small enough, like a grain if sand or a really small pebble, no problem. If it was bigger, it would probably break your hand.
2007-07-17 09:24:53 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Not a thing likely to happen, but you would get burned and probably forced into the ground by the sheer force of the falling star.
2007-07-17 09:37:03 · answer #5 · answered by DAR76 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket, save it for a rainy day. The song tells you everything you need to know.
2007-07-17 13:29:31 · answer #6 · answered by butterscotch 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
After you were dusted by its pixie dust you would be able to fly and make people young forever, and command armies of fairies and frog princes...
in all reality you would be pulverized... they are meteors ...so you're basically asking "What would happen if I actually got smashed in the face with a meteor?" You would cease to exist.
2007-07-17 08:56:38 · answer #7 · answered by Aaron H 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You would have a very large hole though you. Write your will before you try.
2007-07-17 10:32:19 · answer #8 · answered by Morrigi 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you could eat it like the rest of the lucky charms marshmallows
2007-07-17 08:58:37 · answer #9 · answered by alysia15_83 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
pretty sure thats impossible.. but hey if you can pull it off I'd love to hear what happens.
2007-07-17 08:58:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋