Phenomenon of Positive Stabilized Electric Charge and the Effect of Electric Discharge Explosion of Large - Meteorites in Planetary Atmospheres

The formation of positive electric charge on meteoroids moving with large hypersonic velocity in planetary atmospheres is examined. It is found that the magnitude of charge on the meteoroid becomes stabilized in the course of the motion. Preliminary calculations of potential differences between meteoroids and the earth are presented. It is shown that the potential of large meteoroids with respect to the earth is sufficiently large for electrical breakdown of the air between the meteoroid and the earth, which results in the electric-discharge explosion of the meteoroid.