[adrian_b]

Some meteors really explode, because water and other volatile substances contained in them transform from solids into high temperature gases that expand quickly and cause the explosion of the body.

This is the same like how many kinds of water containing things, e.g. raw meat, eggs, fruits, can explode in a microwave oven if the microwave power is too high.

The meteor bodies belong to several classes of chemical compositions. Some of them contain very little volatiles, and they are made either of iron alloy or of silicate rocks or of a mixture of iron alloy and silicate rocks. These do not explode, at most they fragment into many smaller bodies.

Other classes contain great amounts of volatiles, e.g. water, organic compounds and sulfur compounds, and they frequently explode, depending on their size, shape and trajectory, i.e. if there is enough time for the interior to be heated to high temperatures, causing the phase change of the volatiles to gases.

[x______________]

Thank you for the clarity so far down in the responses.

Meteors and eggs do not normally explode, but under the right circumstances.. Boom!

[1970-01-01]

You forgot the fact it will hit something! Craters are not made silently! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor_Crater#Formation