Why is it that meteoroids in outer space are randomly shaped, but a good proportion of those that reach the Earth as meteorites are found to be carved into cones?
It’s all due to the physics of flight in the atmosphere, suggest researchers from New York University’s Applied Mathematics Lab, who used clay models to replicate the process of melting and erosion during flight.
“Slender or narrow cones flip over and tumble, while broad cones flutter and rock back and forth, but we discovered between these are cones that fly perfectly straight with their point or apex leading,” says Leif Ristroph, lead author of a paper published in the journal PNAS.
He and colleagues attached their clay objects to rods then held them in a water current. Eventually, they say, these were carved into cones of the same angularity as conical meteorites.
Of course, real meteorites aren’t held in a fixed position; they can freely rotate and tumble. So, the researchers asked, what allows them to keep a fixed orientation and successfully reach Earth?
They conducted additional experiments in which they examined how different shaped cones fell through water. Here they discovered that narrow cones flip over while broad cones flutter. However, in between these two are “just right” cone shapes that fly straight.
“These experiments tell an origin story for oriented meteorites: the very aerodynamic forces that melt and reshape meteoroids in flight also stabilise its posture so that a cone shape can be carved and ultimately arrive on Earth,” says Ristroph.
The Royal Institution of Australia has an Education resource based on this article. You can access it here.
Originally published by Cosmos as So, why a cone-shaped meteorite?
Nick Carne
Nick Carne is the editor of Cosmos Online and editorial manager for The Royal Institution of Australia.
Read science facts, not fiction...
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.