4 ms·
> Measuring several metres in size, the space rock exploded 25.6km above the Earth's surface, with an impact energy of 173 kilotons. What causes a meteor to ex
by golemotron 8y ago
> Measuring several metres in size, the space rock exploded 25.6km above the Earth's surface, with an impact energy of 173 kilotons.
What causes a meteor to explode 25km above the earth? Thermal expansion of internal gas?
- bufferoverflow 8y agoIt's called an explosion, but it's more of a conversion of kinetic energy to heat due to friction against the air. As the rock heats up, it starts to fall apart, and then smaller pieces go through that as well. Here's a neat simulation of the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbh6GjRChnQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbh6GjRChnQ
- iamgopal 8y agoIsn't it more about air compression instead of friction ?
- EForEndeavour 8y agoCorrect. Further reading: https://www.quora.com/Why-does-a-spacecraft-heat-up-during-reentry https://www.quora.com/Why-does-a-spacecraft-heat-up-during-r...
- ridgeguy 8y agoMainly aerodynamic forces. The heating event is so quick there's not time for the interior of a sizable meteor to warm up. Meteors' thermal conductivity and diffusivity are generally pretty low. Even at 25km altitude, aerodynamic forces are very high and nonuniform with shock wave impingements. These forces will shatter a rocky meteor quite suddenly.