What happens when meteors collide?

When asteroids collide, the resultant fragments are ejected with velocities that are small compared to the orbital velocity of the original asteroid. Consequently, the orbits of the fragments are close to each other, forming a “family” of smaller asteroids (Figure 50.6).

Do asteroids collide with each other?

Astronomers estimate that modest-sized asteroids in the main belt smash into each other about once a year. Catching asteroids in the act of colliding, however, is difficult because large impacts are rare while small ones, such as the one that produced P/2010 A2, are exceedingly faint.

What happens when a meteor hits the Earth?

A meteor is a space rock—or meteoroid—that enters Earth’s atmosphere. As the space rock falls toward Earth, the resistance—or drag—of the air on the rock makes it extremely hot. What we see is a “shooting star.”

What is the difference between a meteor and a meteorite?

Think of them as “space rocks.” When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere (or that of another planet, like Mars) at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or “shooting stars” are called meteors. When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, it’s called a meteorite. Go farther. Explore Meteors and Meteorites In Depth ›

What are the effects of meteorites on the environment?

The dust coming from the meteor will also create more pollution in the environment. However, it is not like we are not destroying it bit by bit. In other words, the impact of the meteor will simply destroy the environment that we live in totally. 11. Shortage of Food and Water

What would happen if a meteorite hit Montreal?

If a one-kilometre meteorite were to hit Montreal, the city would be completely wiped off the map. The size of the resulting crater would be 10 to 20 times the diameter of the meteorite—so that’s a 10- to 20-kilometre hole at the impact site.