Bill Nye - Comets and Meteors

What happens to most meteorites that enter the Earth's atmosphere?

• They disintegrate into smaller fragments
• They burn up completely
• They crash into the Earth's surface and form craters
• They get trapped in the Earth's atmosphere and become satellites

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

What is the difference between a meteoroid, a meteor, and a meteorite?

• A meteoroid is a burning meteorite in the Earth's atmosphere, a meteor is a rock in space, and a meteorite is a meteoroid that has landed on the Earth's surface
• A meteoroid is a meteor that has landed on the Earth's surface, a meteorite is a rock in space, and a meteor is a burning meteoroid in the Earth's atmosphere
• A meteoroid is a burning meteor in the Earth's atmosphere, a meteor is a meteoroid that has landed on the Earth's surface, and a meteorite is a rock in space
• A meteoroid is a rock in space, a meteor is a burning meteoroid in the Earth's atmosphere, and a meteorite is a meteoroid that has landed on the Earth's surface

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.W.6.2D

How are comets and meteors different from stars?

• They are not self-luminous like stars
• They have a different composition than stars
• They have a shorter lifespan than stars
• All of the above

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.2

Why is the Earth not covered with craters like the Moon?

• The Earth's atmosphere causes most meteorites to burn up
• The Earth's strong gravity pulls meteorites towards its surface
• The Earth has more active geological processes that erase craters
• All of the above

Tags

CCSS.RI.6.8

What causes the streak of light seen in the sky when a meteor is burning up?

• The combustion of gases within the meteor
• The reflection of sunlight on the meteor's surface
• The emission of energy as the meteor disintegrates
• None of the above

What shape are the orbits of comets and meteoroids?

• Circles
• Parabolas
• Hyperbolas
• Ellipses

What are comets and meteors made of?

• Gas and dust
• Rocks and ice
• Water and soil
• Metal and minerals

How do scientists determine the composition of a meteorite?

• By studying its shape and size
• By analyzing its magnetic properties
• By conducting chemical tests on its elements
• All of the above

What provides the gravitational force that keeps comets and meteoroids in orbit around the Sun?

• The Earth's gravity
• Jupiter's gravity
• The Moon's gravity
• The Sun's gravity

Why do comets and meteors burn up in the Earth's atmosphere?

• As a result of the heat generated by the Sun
• Because of the friction caused by passing through the atmosphere
• Due to the extreme speed at which they travel
• None of the above