<p>Your first resource here can be the <a href="http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/" rel="nofollow">impact effects calculator</a>, It can show you when it is likely that a high velocity impact will occur. Somewhat surprisingly, faster objects are less likely to hit the ground at hyper-velocity, as they are more likely to break up and explode at altitude. They will likely form multiple meteorites, as the Chelyabinsk meteor did</p>

<p>If you are interested in meteorite formation, rather than craters, then most impactors will in some part survive the fall, provided they are rocky rather than icy. Objects smaller than 5cm are mostly cometary in origin. Larger than that and they are more likely to be rocky.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-31T12:58:47.693Z
2016-02-01T08:29:31.620Z
2016-02-01T08:29:31.620Z
James K
<p>I'm sure it's a function of atmospheric entry angle, meteorite mass (and possibly composition/density), and its velocity, but what function is it?</p>

<p>Above all, how does it depend on velocity? Will the slower meteors impact more often (less kinetic energy to dissipate) or the fast ones (less time spent in the atmosphere = less time to melt and evaporate all the way through)?</p>

<meteorite>
What are the prerequisites for a meteorite to reach the ground?
SF.
# What are the prerequisites for a meteorite to reach the ground?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-30)

I'm sure it's a function of atmospheric entry angle, meteorite mass (and possibly composition/density), and its velocity, but what function is it?

Above all, how does it depend on velocity? Will the slower meteors impact more often (less kinetic energy to dissipate) or the fast ones (less time spent in the atmosphere = less time to melt and evaporate all the way through)?

**Tags:** meteorite


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-31. Score: 4

Your first resource here can be the [impact effects calculator](http://impact.ese.ic.ac.uk/ImpactEffects/), It can show you when it is likely that a high velocity impact will occur. Somewhat surprisingly, faster objects are less likely to hit the ground at hyper-velocity, as they are more likely to break up and explode at altitude. They will likely form multiple meteorites, as the Chelyabinsk meteor did

If you are interested in meteorite formation, rather than craters, then most impactors will in some part survive the fall, provided they are rocky rather than icy. Objects smaller than 5cm are mostly cometary in origin. Larger than that and they are more likely to be rocky.


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