What primarily generates the visible streak of light known as a meteor during atmospheric entry?
Answer
Extreme aerodynamic forces compressing and ionizing the air
The visible streak, or meteor, is generated less by simple combustion and more by the physics of extreme speed. As the meteoroid plows through the atmosphere at high velocity, it compresses the air directly in front of it so rapidly that the air temperature skyrockets dramatically. This rapid compression leads to the ionization of the gas molecules, creating a superheated shockwave that glows intensely. Simultaneously, the immense heat causes the surface of the rock to vaporize, turning its constituent materials into superheated gas that further excites the surrounding air particles, all contributing to the bright streak observed.
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