Fragmentation and crushing of large meteoric bodies in an atmosphere
- Committee for Meteorites, Moscow (Russian Federation)
Three theories of large meteoroid fragmentation in an atmosphere are compared: Grigoryan, Hills-Goda, and Chyba-Thomas-Zahnle. It was shown that the Grigoryan and Hills-Goda theories are virtually identical, although the first is better justified. The Chyba-Thomas-Zahnle theory appreciably ranks below the first two theories, since it does not take into account fragmentation by the splitting mechanism. Therefore, the destruction heights for bodies of various natures are sometimes overestimated by 10-12 km. Arbitrary assumptions accepted in all three theories are discussed: a neglect of evaporation and an oriented flight of an idealized-shape body. It is known that an inclusion of evaporation slightly increases crushing heights (from fractions of a kilometer to several kilometers). Arguments are presented in favor of a rapid chaotic rotation of irregular-shape bodies coming into the atmosphere. The inclusion of such rotation retards the disruption of the body as compared to the oriented flight.
- OSTI ID:
- 166738
- Journal Information:
- Solar System Research, Vol. 29, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: Sep-Oct 1995; TN: Translated from Astronomicheskii Vestnik; 29: No. 5, 450-458(1995)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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