Wilbert Smith Archives Files Box 1130 16 1130-16-p058

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156 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASTROPHYSICS The fragmentation index x is not easy to de- termine because it involves the second-time derivative of the velocity. Since x is, however, the quantity that best describes the fragmenta- tion, it is very helpful for correcting data. Its meaning lies in its being approximately constant for each meteor during the detectable part of its flight. If fragmentation were absent we would find, in the limits of observational error, the same value of r,/p, for...