Science Bell Ringer for Grades 9–12: The physics of a 66-kilometer-per-second meteor
A free science bell ringer for grades 9–12. Put the prompt on the board as students walk in, give them three to five minutes, then go over it together. The answer and teacher notes are in the box below the prompt.
The prompt
Orionid meteors enter Earth's atmosphere at about 66 kilometers per second. (a) How far does one travel in 3 seconds? (b) The grains are about the size of sand. Why do they glow and burn up instead of reaching the ground?
Answer and teacher notes
(a) 66 km/s × 3 s = 198 km.
(b) At that speed the grain slams into the air in front of it. That air is squeezed and heated so fast that the grain heats up and vaporizes, which is the streak of light we see. Students often say "friction"; that is part of it, but compressed, superheated air does most of the work.
Source: NASA: Orionids Meteor Shower
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