Final Exam Review

Two scientists are attempting to determine whether an object is a comet or an asteroid. The table lists the questions they posed and their observations.

Scientist 1 determines that the object is a comet while scientist 2 determines that the object is an asteroid. Which scientist is correct and why?

• Scientist 1 is correct. Because comets are made of dust and ice, comets are more likely to be found in the Oort cloud than asteroids, and only asteroids, not comets, develop tails as they approach the Sun.

• Scientist 2 is correct. Because asteroids are made of dust and ice, asteroids are more likely to be found in the Oort cloud than comets, and an asteroid would not develop a visible tail that far away from the Sun

• Scientist 1 is correct. Because comets are made of dust and ice, comets are more likely to be found in the Oort cloud than asteroids, and a comet would not develop a visible tail that far away from the Sun.

• Scientist 2 is correct. Because asteroids are made of dust and ice, asteroids are more likely to be found in the Oort cloud than comets, and only comets, not asteroids, develop tails as they approach the Sun.

Which of the following actually hits the ground?

• meteor

• meteorite

• meteoroid

What are comets made of?

• Metals like iron and nickel
• Gas
• Hydrogen Gas
• Ice and rock

Where do most comets come from?

• In the Oort Cloud beyond Neptune
• In the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter
• Near the Sun
• Earth's atmosphere

Meteoroids are...

• debris from asteroids/comets floating around in space
• burn up completely in the atmosphere
• hit the ground

What's the difference between comets and asteroids?

• Asteroids are made of metal and rock, while Comets are ice and rock

• Asteroids are made of ice and rock, while Comets are made of metals and rock

• There is no difference

• Asteroids are made of stardust, while Comets are made up of water

Which statement correctly compares meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites?

• Meteors float in space, meteoroids move through the atmosphere, and meteorites have landed on the surface.

• Meteors float in space, meteorites move through the atmosphere, and meteoroids have landed on the surface

• Meteoroids float in space, meteors move through the atmosphere, and meteorites have landed on the surface.

• Meteorites float in space, meteors move through the atmosphere, and meteoroids have landed on the surface.

A student uses a high-powered telescope to study the Moon. The student observes the Moon every night for one month and notices that a certain crater on the Moon's surface is always visible. What can the student conclude from this observation?

• The Moon's rate of rotation is half the speed of its rate of revolution about Earth

• The Moon's rate of rotation is the same as its rate of revolution about Earth.

• The Moon's rate of rotation is faster than its rate of revolution about Earth.

• The Moon's rate of rotation is slower than its rate of revolution about Earth.

Which of the following statements best describes how Earth's movement and tilt affects its periods of daylight and seasons?

• Earth's rotation produces unequal periods of daylight and climate patterns called seasons.

• Earth's tilt produces unequal periods of daylight and climate patterns called seasons.

• Earth's rotation and its tilt produce unequal periods of daylight and climate patterns called seasons.

• Earth's revolution and its tilt produce unequal periods of daylight and climate patterns called seasons.

The diagram shows Earth in its yearly orbit around the Sun. During the year, places in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience seasons because of the tilt of Earth on its axis. Which statement correctly identifies the season in the Northern Hemisphere when the Earth is at Position B?

• It is winter because the northern part of Earth tilts away from the Sun.

• It is summer because the northern part of Earth is tilted toward the Sun.

• It is winter because Earth is farther away from the Sun.

• It is summer because Earth is farther away from the Sun.