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(meteorobs) Re:




On Sunday, February 9, 2003, at 07:32  AM, Tom Fleming wrote:

> I would like to call back a thread of discussion running near the time 
> of
> the Leonids.
>
> It was regarding the manner in which a particle 'burns up' when 
> entering
> the atmosphere. The description included the concept that the particle
> doesnt actually come in contact with the atmosphere - or words to that
> effect.

I beleive the idea is that the burning of the meteor is not due to 
friction but is do to pressure - that the meteor builds up a wall of 
air in front of it which quickly compresses and thus heats into a 
plasma. The meteor also experiences this pressure and similarly heats 
(as a penny heats when run over by a train, or a nail when hammered.)
=    -   -  - - -  -   -    =
Steven Kolins
mailto:smkolins@mac.com
http://homepage.mac.com/smkolins/
Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart!

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