Comets, Asteroids and Meteors

What are asteroids and comets collectively known as?

• Stars

• Meteoroids

• Small bodies orbiting the Sun

• Moons

Where are asteroids generally located?

• In the outer Solar System

• In the inner Solar System

• Outside the Milky Way

• Near the Earth's atmosphere

What are comets primarily made of?

• Rock

• Ice

• Metal

• Gas

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Where do comets spend most of their time?

• In the inner Solar System

• In the asteroid belt

• In the outer Solar System

• Between Mars and Jupiter

What is the direction of the comet's tail in the image?

• Toward the Sun

• Away from the Sun

• Toward Earth

• In the direction of the comet's orbit

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

What are asteroids and comets considered to be in relation to the Solar System?

• Recent additions to the Solar System

• Remnants of the formation of the Solar System

• Unrelated to the Solar System

• Byproducts of the Solar System's destruction

Why are asteroids and comets important for understanding the Solar System?

• They are the main source of light in the Solar System

• They are the largest objects in the Solar System

• They provide the best source of information about the Solar System’s early years

• They are the primary source of water for the Solar System

What is a meteor commonly known as?

• A) A comet

• B) A shooting star

• C) A meteoroid

• D) An asteroid

What is a meteor?

• A) A solid body that gets heated in Earth's atmosphere

• B) A solid body found only in space

• C) The glowing trail left by a solid object moving through Earth's atmosphere

• D) A piece of rock that has landed on Earth's surface

What is a meteoroid?

• A) A solid body that has landed on Earth's surface

• B) A solid body that gets heated as it moves through Earth's atmosphere

• C) A solid body in space

• D) The glowing trail of a meteor