Why Do Small Asteroids Hitting Earth Explode In The Sky?

A study has revealed the main reason why certain asteroids and meteors explode in the sky after entering Earth’s atmosphere. According to the authors of the study, their findings can help the world become more prepared for the next Chelyabinsk event.

For the study, the researchers referenced the devastating event that occurred in 2013 in a region in Russia known as Chelyabinsk Oblast. According to reports, an asteroid that was about 66 feet wide breached Earth’s atmosphere during that time. However, instead of hitting the ground and creating a crater, the asteroid exploded mid-air.

The explosion released as much energy as 30 atomic bombs and had an initial mass of about 10,000 metric tons.

According to experts, only a small percentage or about 0.1 percent of the total mass from the explosion reached the ground. However, it was still powerful enough to damage about 7,000 buildings and injure 1,500 people.

Through a study published in Meteoritics and Planetary Science, researchers presented a possible explanation as to why certain asteroids and meteors explode in the sky.

According to the authors of the study, as the space rock penetrates Earth’s atmosphere, the high-pressure air in front of the object enters it through the cracks and other open spaces on its surface. This creates high levels of internal pressure within the object, eventually causing it to explode from the inside out.

“There’s a big gradient between high-pressure air in front of the meteor and the vacuum of air behind it,” Jay Melosh, a professor at Purdue University and co-author of the study, said in a statement.

“If the air can move through the passages in the meteorite, it can easily get inside and blow off pieces,” he added.

Melosh and his colleagues noted the internal pressure that can build up inside meteors can be strong enough to break apart cosmic space rocks even if they are made from strong materials. Unfortunately, the process of air penetration and pressure build-up is only effective against small asteroids and meteors. The larger ones are not affected by it, which means they will hit the ground instead of detonating mid-air.

According to Melosh, the new concepts and ideas presented in the study can help agencies determine the possible effects of approach asteroids on Earth based on their size.