Question

An iron meteorite melts when it enters the Earth's atmosphere. If its initial temperature, outside of the atmosphere, was -136°C, calculate the minimum velocity the meteorite must have had before it entered Earth's atmosphere.

Answer 1

Directly calculating the minimum velocity of a meteorite based on its initial temperature alone is not straightforward, as additional information on heat transfer and the meteorite's melting point would be needed. The meteorite's kinetic energy upon atmospheric entry contributes to heating and eventual melting due to atmospheric friction and compression.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is asking to calculate the minimum velocity an iron meteorite must have had before entering the Earth's atmosphere if its initial temperature was -136°C and it melts upon entry. To determine the minimum velocity, we would need to know the meteorite's melting point and consider the kinetic energy being converted to thermal energy due to atmospheric friction. However, without specific details on heat transfer, melting point, and other factors, directly calculating velocity based on the initial temperature is not straightforward. This task typically involves principles of thermodynamics and requires additional information to solve.

It is also worth noting that kinetic energy of a meteor relates to its velocity, and upon entering the Earth's atmosphere, the meteor's kinetic energy would contribute to its heating and eventual melting. This heating effect is due to the intense friction and compression as it plows through the atmosphere at high speeds.