Can you explain why it wouldn't work if it was blown in, say, 1000 pieces that would burn faster than it would burn if it was still in one piece? Or maybe that

Can you explain why it wouldn't work if it was blown in, say, 1000 pieces that would burn faster than it would burn if it was still in one piece? Or maybe that once it's in the atmosphere there's no burning anymore? But then what about kinetic energy loss due to air resistance? Wouldn't it work better with 1000 small pieces instead of just one piece? And aren't 1000* (x/1000) * speed ^ 2 hits better than a single x * speed ^ 2 hit? I'm interested and despite reading the wiki link I don't really get it.