What visual result occurs when spectral lines from iron, nickel, and magnesium merge in vaporized rock?
Answer
bright white
Meteors that are rich in common terrestrial elements like iron, nickel, and magnesium often produce a visually uniform color rather than clearly distinguishable spectral hues. When the intense heat causes large quantities of these various elements to vaporize simultaneously, the light emitted across numerous wavelengths overlaps significantly. This merging of multiple spectral lines results in a continuous spectrum of light, which is interpreted by the casual observer as bright white. This common visual perception contrasts with the distinct colors seen when one specific element, like magnesium or sodium, is present in a high enough concentration to dominate the light output.
Related Questions
What color hue does ionized Calcium (Ca+) typically produce in a meteor?What characteristic color light is emitted by super-heated Nitrogen (N2) and Oxygen (O) atoms?What predominant color flash is associated with fast meteors traveling greater than ~30 km/s?Which light-sensitive cells in the human eye are responsible for true color perception during meteor observation?What visual result occurs when spectral lines from iron, nickel, and magnesium merge in vaporized rock?What velocity range defines a slow moving meteor likely to show a yellow-orange color associated with sodium?What process involving faster entry velocity overrides the atmospheric background glow?What is the technical term for the dust particle before it streaks through the atmosphere?Which asteroid is identified as the unique parent body for the Geminids meteor shower?What color appearance is typical for moderate velocity meteors ($ ext{15 to 30 km/s}$) due to iron ionization?