Abstract:
Analytical solutions of equations of the physical theory of meteors for a non-fragmenting meteoroid in an isothermal atmosphere are derived. The ablation parameter is defined as a power-law function of velocity of trajectory motion. An expression relating the meteoroid mass and its velocity and an expression relating the meteoroid velocity, its initial parameters, and atmospheric pressure are obtained. In addition, simple approximate formulas for the meteoroid mass and velocity at the initial trajectory segment and relations for determining the extreme values of the basic dynamic characteristics of the meteoroid (deceleration, dynamic pressure, ablation rate, mid-section area, and kinetic energy per unit path) are also derived.
Keywords:physical theory of meteors, meteoroid, deceleration, ablation, nonisothermal atmosphere.