answersLogoWhite

0

Friction slows objects down, changing kinetic energy into thermal energy. Usually an object from outer space will be travelling very, very fast as it enters the atmosphere and the friction (from the air resistance) will slow it down a lot. This energy is converted to heat, which is why objects can burn up in the atmosphere.

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What layer of the atmosphere is mostly hot?

It isn't. Anything entering or reentering Earth's atmosphere heats up because of heat caused by friction between the air and the object.


Why do objects glow when entering earths atmosphere?

Objects glow when entering Earth's atmosphere due to the intense friction generated as they travel at high speeds through air molecules. This friction heats the object's surface to extreme temperatures, causing it to emit light, a phenomenon known as incandescence. The glowing effect is often visible as a bright trail or "fireball" as the object burns up, a process commonly seen with meteoroids. The phenomenon is also influenced by the object's composition and speed.


Can friction or acceleration due to gravity affect the weight of an object?

Friction and acceleration due to gravity do not directly affect the weight of an object. Weight is determined by the gravitational force acting on the object, which is independent of these factors. However, friction can affect the apparent weight of an object on a surface by opposing the force of gravity.


How friction affect the moving object?

Friction always want to retard the motion of a moving object. So friction slows down and finally stops a moving object.


How does the surface of an object affect friction?

the smoother a surface is, the less friction it produces.


Does the mass of an object affect friction-?

Yes Friction=Reaction force x COF Reaction force = mass x gravity So Friction=mass x gravity x COF ^ Change the mass, change the friction


How does friction affect the velocity of an object?

Friction is a force that opposes the motion of an object. When friction is present, it can decrease the velocity of an object by acting in the opposite direction of its motion. This means that the object will slow down due to the resistance caused by friction.


How goes friction affect forces?

Force due to friction opposes an object in motion, and any forces that propel that object.


How does the friction affect the way objects move?

Friction will slow down the moving object


How does friction affect interia?

Friction does not affect inertia, but it affects momentum. Momentum is the product of the mass of an object and its speed. Friction forces, if present, will always act to decrease the momentum of a moving object.


Why do meteors burn up entering earth but not the moon?

The reason meteors burn up is due to friction in the Earth's atmosphere. An object moving very quickly through the atmosphere heats up due to friction with the atmosphere and this heat causes it's surface to boil and evaporate and sometimes to explode. The moon has no appreciable atmosphere and so objects would just plummet to its surface without resistance.


How does it affect motion of a falling object?

it affects motion by friction a friction pull it down or up