I should give up but...
If the thing tumbles instead of going "splat" (and making a nice warm spot) isn’t the kinetic energy redirected along the path of its tumble and dissipated gradually (decelerated) by the effects of friction?
Space/Science » in reply to Nevermind...
If the thing tumbles instead of going "splat" (and making a nice warm spot) isn’t the kinetic energy redirected along the path of its tumble and dissipated gradually (decelerated) by the effects of friction?