METEOROIDS Meaning and
Definition
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Meteoroids are small celestial bodies that travel through space. They are made up of rocks, dust, and other debris that are leftover from the formation of the solar system. These bodies range in size from tiny dust particles to larger rocks, with some measuring up to several meters in diameter.
Meteoroids originate from various sources, including the breakup of asteroids or comets as they pass near the Sun. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it becomes a meteor, often referred to as a shooting star. The fiery streak of light that we observe is caused by the meteoroid's high speed and intense friction with the Earth's atmosphere, heating the object and causing it to glow.
Most meteoroids disintegrate completely in the atmosphere due to the heat generated, leaving no fragments behind. However, larger meteoroids may survive the atmospheric entry and reach the Earth's surface, becoming meteorites. These meteorites are valuable to scientists as they provide insights into the composition and history of our solar system.
Meteoroids can pose a potential threat to spacecraft as well as the Earth. The high-speed impact of a larger meteoroid can cause significant damage upon collision. To study and understand the nature of meteoroids and their potential hazards, scientists observe them using radar systems, telescopes, and satellite technology.
In summary, meteoroids are small celestial bodies made up of rocks, dust, and debris that travel through space. They become meteors when they enter Earth's atmosphere and meteorites if they survive the atmospheric entry and reach the Earth's surface.
Top Common Misspellings for METEOROIDS *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for METEOROIDS
Etymology of METEOROIDS
The word "meteoroid" is derived from two Greek words: "meteoros" meaning "high in the air", and "eidos" meaning "form" or "shape". "Meteoros" is a compound word from "meta" meaning "beyond" or "transient", and "aer" meaning "air". So, "meteoroids" essentially refers to objects that are transient or high in the air.
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