Earth Science SOL Unit 2.2 -Comets, Asteroids, Meteorites, Stars

What happens to comets as they approach the Sun?

• They freeze and turn liquid nitrogen.

• They heat up and release gas and dust.

• They shrink and release hydrogen.

• They become invisible.

Answer explanation

As comets approach the Sun, they heat up due to solar radiation, causing their ices to vaporize and release gas and dust. This process forms a glowing coma and tail, making them visible in the night sky.

What is the glowing head of a comet called?

• Nucleus

• Coma

• Core

• Halo

Answer explanation

The glowing head of a comet is called the coma. It is a cloud of gas and dust that surrounds the nucleus when the comet approaches the Sun, causing it to glow due to solar radiation.

Which of the following is an example of a comet?

• Vesta

• Comet Halley

• Sirius

• Orion

Answer explanation

Comet Halley is a well-known comet that orbits the Sun approximately every 76 years. In contrast, Vesta is an asteroid, Sirius is a star, and Orion is a constellation, making Comet Halley the correct example of a comet.

What are meteors commonly known as?

• Shooting stars

• Falling rocks

• Comet tails

• Dust trails

Answer explanation

Meteors are commonly referred to as "shooting stars" because they create a bright streak of light in the sky when they burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere.

Meteor showers are caused by (a)  

• the collisions between planets

• the Earth passing through trails of deb

• the Explosions on the Sun

• the gravitational pull of the Moon

Answer explanation

Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through trails of debris left by comets or asteroids. As these tiny particles enter the Earth's atmosphere, they burn up, creating bright streaks of light in the sky.

What controls the evolution, lifespan, and fate of a star?

• Its color

• Its mass

• Its distance from Earth

• Its speed

Answer explanation

A star's mass is the primary factor that determines its evolution, lifespan, and ultimate fate. More massive stars burn hotter and faster, leading to shorter lifespans, while less massive stars can live for billions of years.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

What happens to meteors as they enter Earth's atmosphere?

• They freeze.

• They burn up.

• They grow larger.

• They become invisible.

Answer explanation

As meteors enter Earth's atmosphere, they encounter friction with air molecules, causing them to heat up and burn. This process results in the bright streaks of light we see, known as meteors or shooting stars.

The Crab Nebula is an example of a (a)  

• black hole

• stellar nursery

• A galaxy

• planet

Answer explanation

The Crab Nebula is a remnant of a supernova explosion and is known for being a stellar nursery, where new stars are formed from the gas and dust. It is not a black hole, a galaxy, or a planet.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

What does the Nebular Theory explain?

• The formation of black holes

• The creation of galaxies

• The formation of stars and planets from a nebula

• The expansion of the universe

Answer explanation

The Nebular Theory explains how stars and planets form from a nebula, which is a cloud of gas and dust in space. This process involves the gravitational collapse of the nebula, leading to the creation of celestial bodies.

What is a planetary nebula?

• A type of galaxy

• A low-mass star shedding its outer layers

• A black hole

• A neutron star

Answer explanation

A planetary nebula is formed when a low-mass star exhausts its nuclear fuel and sheds its outer layers, creating a glowing shell of gas. This distinguishes it from galaxies, black holes, and neutron stars.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3