[meteorite-list] Does Friction or Ram Pressure Cause Meteor Ablation

From: JoshuaTreeMuseum <joshuatreemuseum_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:50:08 -0500
Message-ID: <396DA807EC4E4AD8A08200164F896C09_at_ET>

I know it was discussed awhile back about whether atmospheric friction or
ram pressure causes meteor ablation, but I don't remember if the science was
ever settled. If you Google the question, the overwhelming majority of hits
say it's friction with oxygen, argon and nitrogen molecules that causes the
heat. Even an NAU site says this. Dig a little deeper and you discover
claims that it's a myth, the heat is caused by ram pressure. So which is it,
compressed air or friction?

I vote for ram pressure.

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Phil Whitmer
Received on Fri 18 Nov 2011 12:50:08 PM PST