Most meteors burn up in the _________ layer of atmosphere.

Correct option is B

Ans.(B) Mesosphere

Sol.Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere, the third layer of Earth's atmosphere. As meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, they encounter increased air resistance in the mesosphere, causing them to heat up and disintegrate due to friction. This process creates a bright streak of light in the sky, commonly known as a shooting star or meteor.

Information Booster:

• Altitude of Mesosphere: It extends from 50 km to 85 km above Earth's surface.
• Reason for Meteor Burn-Up: The mesosphere has enough air molecules to cause friction but is not dense enough to significantly slow down objects before they reach this layer.
• Temperature: The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, with temperatures dropping to -90°C (-130°F).
• Ionosphere Overlap: The upper part of the mesosphere contains charged particles that contribute to phenomena like noctilucent clouds and atmospheric tides.
• Other Atmospheric Layers:
  • Troposphere: Weather and clouds exist here, but it's too dense for meteors to survive until this point.
  • Stratosphere: Contains the ozone layer, but meteors don't typically burn up here.
  • Thermosphere: Some larger meteors may survive past the mesosphere but usually break up before reaching this layer.