Chapter 32, Problem 20RQ

To determine

The term falling star.

Answer to Problem 20RQ

The burning pieces of the meteoroid on the Earth is called falling star.

Explanation of Solution

The meteoroid breaks up into small size rocks. These rocks start to fall towards the Earth. When these small rocks come in the Earth’s atmosphere, then these rock starts to heat up due to the friction on the rocks.

If the temperature of falling pieces of meteoroid becomes very high, then these pieces start to burn. The pieces of rocks glowed like stars due to burning and called a falling star.

The falling stars fall with speed greater than the escape speed on the Earth. The falling stars are also called shooting stars.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the burning pieces of the meteoroid on the Earth is called falling star.