At what speed does stuff burn up?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the factors influencing the burn-up of objects in the atmosphere. It is established that burn-up is not solely dependent on speed but also significantly influenced by the object's surface area, shape, and material composition. A stationary object will not burn unless it is self-combustible, while moving objects experience varying burn-up velocities based on their design and drag forces. Therefore, both aerodynamic properties and material characteristics play crucial roles in determining burn-up behavior.

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  • Understanding of aerodynamic principles
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  • Familiarity with drag force concepts
  • Basic physics of combustion
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  • Research aerodynamic design principles for high-speed objects
  • Study material science focusing on thermal resistance and combustion properties
  • Explore the physics of drag forces and their impact on object behavior in the atmosphere
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kieyard
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hi, everyone.
something iv been pondering recently, is there a set speed at which something burns up in the air/atmosphere, or is it more to do with the surface area of the object traveling through the air, which would mean more of a drag force which means that the extra energy transforms to heat which causes the burn up? which would mean its more of a material and design problem for burning up in the air/atmosphere?

any relevant information would be great. thanks
 
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It is a combination of several things. Obviously an object with zero velocity will generally not burn up unless it is self combustible. For a moving object, the velocity it will burn up will depend on several things, including its shape and composition.
 

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