Meteors, Comets, and Asteroids Quiz

What is the main difference between a meteor and a meteoroid?

• A meteoroid is a meteor that has landed on Earth

• A meteoroid is a small object in space before it enters Earth's atmosphere

• A meteor is a comet

• A meteoroid is the same as an asteroid

What causes the streak of light that we see when a meteor enters Earth's atmosphere?

• The reflection of sunlight on the meteor's surface

• The meteor burning up due to friction with the atmosphere

• The meteor colliding with the Earth

• The meteor giving off its own light

Comets are primarily composed of:

• Rock and metal

• Ice, dust, and gas

• Only gas

• Only solid rock

Where are most asteroids located in our solar system?

• Between Mars and Jupiter, in the asteroid belt

• Beyond Neptune

• Between Earth and Venus

• Between Earth and Mars

Which of the following is true about comets?

• They are always visible from Earth

• They have long, elliptical orbits around the Sun

• They only appear when they are near the Earth

• They are composed entirely of metal

What is the 'tail' of a comet made of?

• Solid rock

• The comet’s nucleus

• Dust and gas that are blown away by the solar wind

• Ice that evaporates into space

When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, it is called a:

• Meteorite

• Asteroid

• Meteor

• Comet

An asteroid is best described as:

• A small rock that orbits the Sun and is smaller than a planet

• A piece of ice that burns up in Earth's atmosphere

• A planet that failed to form

• A comet that has lost its tail

What happens to a comet when it gets close to the Sun?

• It burns up completely

• It accelerates and its tail becomes more visible

• Its nucleus becomes larger

• It moves further away from the Sun

Which of the following objects is most likely to cause significant damage if it collided with Earth?

• A small meteoroid

• An asteroid

• A comet

• A shooting star