First off, this isn't going to apply to all models. Obviously we're sticking to dome models, though a variation of the principle might be usable to determine the height of the dark energy exclusion zone or equivalent in UA models. The assumptions I make are:
1. Meteors are rocks falling from any part of the dome.
2. The majority of the dome is vacuum or close to vacuum.
3. Whatever causes gravity, whether UA or some basic rule, is approximately uniform throughout the dome.
If this is the case then we have all we need to get a decent estimate for the height of the highest part of the dome. We use observations of the speeds of meteors; the fastest observed meteors (specifically, the Leonids) travel at 72,00m/s
Source:
https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-faq/#3 You might disbelieve some of the RE explanations there, but in terms of the raw observation there would be no reason to lie. The Leonid showers are fairly regular and the speed could theoretically be verified.
We then use the suvat equations
s stands for displacement, the distance a particle has travelled. u is the initial velocity of the particle, v the final velocity, a the acceleration, t the time taken.
We are approximating heavily, but nonetheless, we seek to find a value for s.
a=9.8m/s/s, the force of gravity/UA/some equivalent. u is zero, the rock is stationary before it falls from the dome. v is taken to be the highest known speed of 72000m/s.
We then substitute into the fourth suvat equation above to calculate. just plug the values in to find:
s=264,489km
As I said this is approximate. This may not be the absolute highest part of the dome, but if these are the fastest falling rocks then they must come from a particularly high location, and if it is even in the ballpark then the dome's height (assuming it takes the most natural shape) is unlikely to vary too much in the area of it directly above the Earth. Equally there might be other factors in the meteor's speed, but presumably the acceleration from the fall is dominant.
Other meteors are far slower, but working under the principle it is easier to lose speed than to gain it this still seems approximately close.
This value is big, but compared to RE cosmic numbers it's positively miniscule.
So, how do any FEers feel about this value? Do you agree with my calculations, think there's a major flaw, like the ballpark estimate, dislike it...
Discuss, I guess.