Question

The typical meteor is_______

O about the size of a small one-family house
O made of evaporated ices
O a small solid particle, no bigger than a pea
O visible only from above the Earth's atmosphere

Answer 1

The typical meteor is a small solid particle, no bigger than a pea.

Therefore, the correct answer is: option "a small solid particle, no bigger than a pea"

Step-by-step explanation:

Meteors are small solid particles that enter Earth's atmosphere and vaporize due to friction with the air, creating flashes of light known as shooting stars.

Despite its small size, we can observe it because the light we see is from the broader region of heated, glowing gas that envelops this tiny grain of interplanetary material.

The incredible velocity of these particles, many kilometers per second, causes them to vaporize due to friction with the air at altitudes between 80 and 130 kilometers, resulting in a flash of light that is visible against the night sky.

On a dark night, an alert observer might see several meteors per hour. Larger particles can create more intense displays such as fireballs, and in rare cases, large pieces may survive to reach the Earth, becoming meteorites.