8.E.4B.1

Meteorites are particles of dust or rock that pass through Earth's atmosphere. Which reason best explains why meteorites are seen as brief streaks of light?

• They are produced by the Sun and are made up of flaming gases.

• They reflect the Sun's light as they enter Earth's atmosphere.

• They give off cool vapors as they enter Earth's atmosphere.

• They burn up due to friction as they enter Earth's atmosphere.

How are meteoroids and asteroids similar?

• Both meteoroids and asteroids have predictable orbits around the Sun.

• Both meteoroids and asteroids are typically made of rock.

• Neither meteoroids nor asteroids have paths that cross Earth's orbit.

• Neither meteoroids nor asteroids are larger than a few meters in diameter

Which planet orbits the Sun in the shortest amount of time?

• Earth

• Jupiter

• Saturn

• Venus

Which planet would have the shortest revolution around the Sun?

• Jupiter

• Mars

• Neptune

• Saturn

Which statement is true about comets?

• Comets do not contain ice and rock particles.

• A comet's tail always points toward the Sun.

• The tail of the comet begins to emerge as it moves away from the Sun.

• Comets have a unique long, narrow elliptical orbit.

What classification would a scientist most likely assign to an object that hit the Earth's surface?

• asteroid

• meteor

• meteorite

• planet

A scientist observes an object approximately 11 km in length with an elliptical orbit around the Sun. The object is made of dust, ice, and rocky materials and passes Earth every 75 years. How is the object most likely classified?

• comet

• moon

• planet

• star

Millions of large, irregularly shaped rocks revolve around the Sun. These rocks are present between two planets in the solar system. What are these described components of the universe?

• asteroids

• comets

• meteorites

• meteors

A space scientist observed a large chunk of rock moving in the solar system. He observed that the rocky chunk burned up in the atmosphere of Earth. What was the object the scientist likely identified?

• asteroid

• comet

• meteor

• meteorite

A student observes an object in the night sky that has a bright central region and a tail. What can be another characteristic of the object the student observes?

• It orbits Earth.

• It contains only rock.

• It has a unique long, narrow elliptical orbit.

• It is found in the solar system between Mars and Jupiter.