Meteoroids, Meteors, and Meteorites

Front

What is a meteoroid?

Back

A small body made of dust or debris that travels through the space vacuum.

Front

True or False: When a meteoroid becomes a meteorite, less than 5% of the original object typically makes it to Earth's surface.

Back

True

Front

What is a meteorite?

Back

A former meteoroid that survives its fiery passage through the atmosphere to hit the Earth's surface.

Front

What do we call meteoroids when they enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed and burn up?

Back

Meteors.

Front

True or False: All meteors eventually become meteorites.

Back

False.

Front

What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

Back

A meteoroid is a small body in space, while a meteor is the flash of light produced when a meteoroid burns up in the atmosphere.

Front

What is the main cause of a meteor's brightness?

Back

The intense heat generated by friction as it travels through the atmosphere.

Front

What happens to most meteoroids when they enter the Earth's atmosphere?

Back

They burn up and become meteors.

Front

What is an asteroid?

Back

A larger rocky body that orbits the Sun, unlike meteoroids which are smaller.

Front

What is a comet?

Back

A small icy body that, when passing close to the Sun, heats up and releases gas, forming a glowing coma and tail.