Astronomy flashcard 2

Front

What is the term for rock and metal debris smaller than asteroids?

Back

Meteoroids

Front

How old is the Earth?

Back

About 4.6 billion years old

Front

Where does a large asteroid belt appear in our solar system?

Back

Between Mars and Jupiter

Front

What causes planetesimals to collide and stick together to form protoplanets?

Back

Their mutually attractive gravitation.

Front

What can we conclude if a moon of a planet shows very few craters?

Back

The moon is geologically active.

Front

What is the main component of the asteroid belt?

Back

Asteroids, which are rocky bodies orbiting the Sun.

Front

What is a protoplanet?

Back

A large body of matter in orbit around the Sun that is in the process of forming into a planet.

Front

What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

Back

A meteoroid is a small rock or particle from space, while a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere.

Front

What is the Kuiper Belt?

Back

A region of the solar system beyond Neptune, populated with small icy bodies and dwarf planets.

Front

What is the significance of craters on celestial bodies?

Back

Craters indicate the history of impacts and geological activity on the surface.