The meteorite shown is black most likely because of friction with the air, which heats the meteoroid as it passes through Earth's atmosphere.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it encounters resistance from the air molecules, which causes friction and heats up the meteoroid. This heat can cause the outer layer of the meteoroid to melt and create a thin, black fusion crust. Therefore, the black color of the meteorite is most likely due to the fusion crust formed by the heat and not because of any intrinsic property of the meteorite itself.

The Meteorite Shown Is Black Most Likely Because of Friction