Meteorite fragments found in Russia's Urals region

[kiri]

16. close

It's not bad. But the splat of the tomato takes place over a second or so (and it does actually warm up--very slightly--as its kinetic energy has to go somewhere; energy always has to go somewhere, usually into heat).

Here we have an object growing hotter and hotter--on its surface--over maybe 20 seconds. But heat conduction does not happen that fast, so the interior is still cold. Hence, stresses--exactly the same happens when you pour hot water into a glass and it cracks. But stresses release energy as molecule separates from molecule. Electrons are promoted to higher energy orbits, and then return releasing light and X-rays. And hot atoms have chemical reactions with air molecules--this takes place in milliseconds. Atoms/molecules reacting with oxygen atoms is what we call fire. (Or very accelerated rusting!)

When you get to temperatures of 1000-3000 C, the world is very different. Kitchen experiences with heat are not an adequate guide.

The situation in the meteor and its nearby air gets ever more unhappy and complicated. So much energy, so little space and time. Something has to give, as the energy can no longer be contained by the pre-existing forces. Out comes light and sound.

I am curious as to whether there was any fogging on photographic materials, from X-rays. The energy might not have been quite great enough, but I suspect there were some.

Heat is a form of energy; not the same as temperature. There are only 4 fundamental forces in our Universe. That is profound.