Impact of Small Solar System Bodies

What is the primary composition of asteroids?

• Ice and dust

• Rock and metal

• Gas and plasma

• Water and organic compounds

Which of the following best describes the orbit of a comet?

• Circular and close to the Sun

• Elliptical and far from the Sun

• Parabolic and within the asteroid belt

• Hyperbolic and near the Earth

What is the main difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

• A meteoroid is larger than a meteor

• A meteoroid is in space, while a meteor is in Earth's atmosphere

• A meteor is made of ice, while a meteoroid is made of rock

• A meteor is a comet, while a meteoroid is an asteroid

How do asteroids primarily affect Earth?

• By causing solar eclipses

• By impacting Earth's surface and causing craters

• By altering Earth's magnetic field

• By changing Earth's orbit around the Sun

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2

What is the origin of most comets in our solar system?

• The Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud

• The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

• The rings of Saturn

• The surface of the Moon

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of a comet?

• A solid metallic core

• A tail that always points away from the Sun

• A circular orbit around the Earth

• A dense atmosphere

What is the primary reason meteors burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere?

• Friction with atmospheric gases

• Collision with other meteors

• Exposure to sunlight

• Gravitational pull of the Earth

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-3

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Which of the following statements is true about the asteroid belt?

• It is located between Earth and Mars

• It contains only icy bodies

• It is located between Mars and Jupiter

• It is the origin of all comets

What is the typical structure of a comet?

• A rocky core with a gaseous atmosphere

• A nucleus, coma, and tail

• A solid metal surface with a magnetic field

• A liquid core with a solid crust

How do meteoroids differ from asteroids in terms of size?

• Meteoroids are generally smaller than asteroids

• Meteoroids are generally larger than asteroids

• Meteoroids and asteroids are the same size

• Meteoroids are gaseous, while asteroids are solid

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3