Ram pressure

In physics, ram pressure is pressure exerted on a body which is moving at supersonic velocity through a fluid medium. It causes a strong drag force to be exerted on the body. For example, a meteoroid traveling through the Earth's atmosphere produces a shock wave generated by the extremely rapid compression of air in front of the meteoroid. It is primarily this ram pressure (rather than friction) which heats the air which in turn heats the meteoroid as it flows around it. In the case of a galaxy moving through the intergalactic gas, the ram pressure is capable of stripping the galaxy of much of its interstellar gas.

Related Topics:
Physics - Supersonic - Fluid - Drag - Meteoroid - Shock wave - Friction - Galaxy - Intergalactic gas - Interstellar gas

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