When you see the bright flash of a meteor, what are you actually seeing?
A) The glow from a pea-size particle and the surrounding air as the particle burns up in our atmosphere
B) Emission of visible light from a particle that has not yet entered Earth's atmosphere
C) A star that has suddenly shot across the sky
D) The flash that occurs when a speeding rock from space hits the ground

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a meteor enters Earth's atmosphere, it heats up due to friction with the air molecules. This causes the particle to glow and burn up, creating a bright flash of light. The glow is from both the particle and the surrounding air as they both heat up and react to each other.

When You See the Bright Flash of a Meteor, What