Why Meteors Can Fall to Earth? page all

KOMPAS.com – Meteor is a celestial body that has its own charm to observe. But why meteor can fall to Earth?

Definition of meteor

Before understanding the cause of meteors falling to Earth, we need to first understand the meaning of meteors, meteoroidand meteorite. Meteoroid are small rocks that move around the sun. These meteoroids are usually remnant fragments of an asteroid, comet, or planet.

Meteors are meteoroids that enter the Earth’s atmosphere and burn due to friction with the air in the atmosphere. However, meteors do not always reach the Earth’s surface. Usually meteors will burn up before touching the Earth’s surface.

However, if the meteor manages to touch the surface of the Earth, it is called a meteorite. This is the third understanding that will help us to understand how the process of meteors can enter Earth.

In accordance with the above understanding, we know that meteoroids move around the Sun like planets. These meteoroids are scattered in our solar system between the planets as far as the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.

If the Earth’s orbit meets the orbit of the meteoroid, then the meteoroid can enter Earth’s atmosphere. This is what causes meteors to fall to Earth.

Meteors can also fall in large numbers or we are familiar with meteor showers. Especially for meteor showers, it usually occurs when the Earth’s orbit meets the orbit of a comet.

Comets will leave behind a large number of meteors. This condition will cause a meteor shower.

Also read: How Meteoroids Occur and Their Impact on Humans

How often do meteors fall to Earth?

Reported from Space, it is difficult to quantify how often meteors enter Earth’s atmosphere. The number is very large and does not have an exact count.

However, you don’t need to worry because most meteors have already burned up in the atmosphere and are not harmful to humans. In addition, meteorites that reach the Earth’s surface are also mostly just rocks measuring less than half a kilogram.

Such a small rock rarely causes extensive casualties or damage. However, because the meteorite is coming at a speed of more than 322 kilometers per hour, the meteorite can damage or the car or house it hits.

The more real danger comes from the shock wave. For example, the Chelyabinsk meteor that entered Earth’s atmosphere in February 2013 over the Russian sky.

This meteor is the size of a 6-story building and broke about 24 kilometers above ground level.

The explosion of the meteor caused a shockwave the power of which was equivalent to the explosion of a 500 kiloton bomb. This incident left 1,600 people injured.

Get updates news of choice and breaking news every day from Kompas.com. Let’s join the Telegram group “Kompas.com News Update”, how to click the link https://t.me/kompascomupdate, then join. You must first install the Telegram application on your cellphone.–