Question

Explain why a meteorite burns up as it enters the earth's atmosphere. Using ideas about work and energy...

Answer 1

due to the friction between falling meteorite and atmospheric air, the meteorite gets heated and heated and heated and finally burns up..

Answer 2

Due to increasing heat energy created by friction, the meteorite burns up
Moreover we know that the friction increases with increase in velocity.
Therefore When the meteorite enters the earth atmosphere, it gets pulled faster and faster by earth, resulting in high heat energy built up due to heat enrgy built up by friction and finally burns off as my friend @ujjwal pointed out

Answer 3

Thank you but how does this relate to energy transfer?

Answer 4

Frictional energy is converted to heat enrgy. That's the only energy transfer I see :)

Answer 5

Is friction a energy @shivam_bhalla ?

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction#Energy_of_friction

Answer 7

Friction is essential a force which results in frictional energy

Answer 8

*essentially

Answer 9

@ujjwal

Answer 10

wouldn't it be better if we say the KE of meteorite is converted to Heat due to friction..

Answer 11

Yes Indeed.
KE --> Friction --> Heat