What causes the brilliant flash observed when a meteoroid encounters Earth's atmosphere?
Answer
Extreme speed causing air compression and heating
The visible phenomenon known as a meteor is not caused by the burning of the rock itself, but rather by the dramatic effects of its entry velocity. As the meteoroid rams into the thicker layers of Earth's atmosphere at extreme speeds, the air directly in front of it is compressed intensely. This rapid compression generates massive amounts of heat, which creates the intense light we see as a streak across the sky. Furthermore, the process of ablation, where material is vaporized and stripped away from the object's surface due to this heating, contributes to the visible streak observed, commonly referred to as a shooting star.
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