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To: Mr. K

I think you’re right. I can’t imagine a meteorite slowing down to terminal velocity.


17 posted on 04/04/2014 7:06:21 AM PDT by Right Brother
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To: Right Brother
I think you’re right. I can’t imagine a meteorite slowing down to terminal velocity.

At some point, usually between 15 to 20 km (9-12 miles or 48,000-63,000 feet) altitude, the meteoroid remnants will decelerate to the point that the ablation process stops, and visible light is no longer generated. This occurs at a speed of about 2-4 km/sec (4500-9000 mph).

From that point onward, the stones will rapidly decelerate further until they are falling at their terminal velocity, which will generally be somewhere between 0.1 and 0.2 km/sec (200 mph to 400 mph). Moving at these rapid speeds, the meteorite(s) will be essentially invisible during this final “dark flight” portion of their fall.

Link

23 posted on 04/04/2014 8:16:57 AM PDT by SC DOC
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To: Right Brother

Everything slows to terminal velocity. It’s a gravity thing.


42 posted on 04/06/2014 2:50:22 PM PDT by Vermont Lt (If you want to keep your dignity, you can keep it. Period........ Just kidding, you can't keep it.)
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