friction with atmosphere
A meteoroid is dragged toward Earth by gravity and enters the atmosphere. Friction with the atmosphere heats the object quickly, so it starts to vaporize. As it flies through the atmosphere, it leaves a trail of glowing gases. The object is now a meteor. Most meteors vaporize in the atmosphere. They never reach Earths surface. Large meteoroids may not burn up entirely in the atmosphere. A small core may remain and hit Earths surface. This is called a meteorite .