Final answer:
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through cometary debris. The dust particles from a comet's trail create a sudden burst of meteor activity, resulting in a meteor shower.
Step-by-step explanation:
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through cometary debris. Many meteors that strike Earth are associated with specific comets. When Earth crosses a dust stream left by a comet, there is a sudden burst of meteor activity, resulting in a meteor shower that usually lasts several hours.