Why Do Meteors Burn Up?

This worksheet features a science reading passage explaining why meteoroids heat up and often disintegrate when entering Earth’s atmosphere. Students learn about friction, air resistance, and the transformation of kinetic energy into heat, which causes the glowing streak we call a meteor. After reading, learners answer short-answer and critical-thinking questions that deepen understanding of scientific cause and effect. The activity strengthens comprehension of atmospheric processes and vocabulary related to space phenomena.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Science – Earth and Space Science: Meteor Behavior and Atmospheric Entry

English Language Arts – Reading Informational Text: Analyze Scientific Explanations

English Language Arts – Vocabulary: Apply Domain-Specific Terms

Science Literacy – Explain Cause and Effect in Natural Phenomena

This worksheet is part of our Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors collection.