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Re: velocity of incandecense vs atmosphere density

Hello T.H.S. - 

   Right about the thin atmosphere of Mars, but it's
still thick enough to cause heat.  The entering object
does not "burn" so much as ablate: the heat is so high
that the chemical bonds break and the melted pieces
fly off.  At higher temperatures the atomic bonds
themselves break and the atoms ionize. The chemical
bonds breaking as well as the changes in electron
balance (ionization) both generate light, but I don't
know if "incandense" is exactly the right word for
this.

EP

--- "T. H. S." <howard@teleport.com> wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
>  As long as the list is relatively quiet, I have a
> two part question that
> I am curious about. The recent loss of the Mars
> Climate Orbiter got me to 
> thinking, is the Martion atmosphere dense enough to
> cause incoming objects,
> (rocks, multi-million dollar satelites, etc) to
> actually burn(incandense)?
> Wouldn't it take a higher entry speed in a thinner
> atmosphere? What part 
> does oxygen content play? As a welder, I know that
> once you start a cut with 
> a oxy/acetylene torch you can turn off the acetylene
> and actually burn the 
> steel simply by blowing oxygen on it.
> 
> Just curious,
> howard
> 
> 
> 
> 
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