GACE Middle Grades Science Practice Exam 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Success!

The term used for a streak of light produced by a meteoroid burning in Earth's atmosphere is "meteor." When a meteoroid enters the atmosphere at high speed, the intense friction and heat generated cause it to glow, creating the visible light phenomenon that we commonly refer to as a meteor or "shooting star." This process occurs within the Earth's atmosphere and is distinct from the meteoroid itself (the object before entry), a meteorite (the remnant that reaches the Earth’s surface), and various other celestial bodies like asteroids and comets that have different definitions and characteristics. Understanding this distinction helps clarify the lifecycle of these space objects and their interactions with our atmosphere.