Asteroid Alert! Vocabulary

Front

What is a rocky object that orbits the Sun?

Back

Asteroid

Front

What term describes an object that exists in the Universe, such as a planet or star?

Back

Celestial object

Front

What is a large, bowl-shaped hole in the ground usually caused by explosions or impacts?

Back

Crater

Front

What is space debris that heats up as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere and appears as a streak of light?

Back

Meteor

Front

What is a meteor that has passed through the Earth's atmosphere and hit the ground called?

Back

Meteorite

Front

What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic body in outer space, while a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A comet is a small icy body in space that, when close to the Sun, displays a visible atmosphere or coma and sometimes a tail.

Front

What is the main component of an asteroid?

Back

Asteroids are primarily composed of rock and metal.

Front

What is the significance of studying asteroids?

Back

Studying asteroids helps scientists understand the early solar system and the potential threats they pose to Earth.

Front

What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteorite?

Back

An asteroid is a small rocky body orbiting the Sun, while a meteorite is a fragment of an asteroid that has fallen to Earth.