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)the flash that occurs when a speeding rock from space hits the ground
D)a star that has suddenly shot across the sky

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a meteor enters Earth's atmosphere, it collides with the air molecules and begins to heat up, creating a bright and glowing streak called a meteor or shooting star. This is caused by the pea-sized particle burning up, along with the surrounding air, due to friction and pressure.

When You See the Bright Flash of a Meteor, What