Unit 7 Quiz 3 Review - Cosmic Rocks

What are meteoroids?

• Large rocks orbiting the Sun

• Small particles from a comet or asteroid orbiting the Sun

• Icy bodies that release gas and dust

• Natural satellites of planets

Answer explanation

Meteoroids are small particles that originate from comets or asteroids and orbit the Sun. They differ from larger rocks, icy bodies, and natural satellites, making the second choice the correct definition.

A moon of Saturn that has liquid methane oceans and may have life is called ________.

• Io

• Europa

• Titan

• Ganymede

Answer explanation

Titan is a moon of Saturn known for its liquid methane oceans and is considered a potential habitat for life, making it the correct answer. Io, Europa, and Ganymede are moons of Jupiter, not Saturn.

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

• A meteor is in space, while a meteorite is on Earth

• A meteor is larger than a meteorite

• A meteorite is in space, while a meteor is on Earth

• A meteor is made of ice, while a meteorite is made of rock

Answer explanation

The main difference is that a meteor is the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, while a meteorite is a meteoroid that survives the journey and lands on Earth.

What is Halley's Comet best known for?

• Being the largest comet

• Having the longest tail

• Being visible from Earth approximately every 76 years

• Being the fastest comet

Answer explanation

Halley's Comet is best known for being visible from Earth approximately every 76 years, making it one of the most famous comets due to its predictable appearances.

___________ is the force of attraction between one object with mass and another object with mass.

• Magnetism

• Gravity

• Friction

• Nuclear force

Answer explanation

Gravity is the force of attraction between objects with mass, such as planets and stars. It is distinct from magnetism, friction, and nuclear force, which involve different interactions.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

What are asteroids primarily made of?

• Ice and dust

• Massive rock

• Gas and plasma

• Water and organic compounds

Answer explanation

Asteroids are primarily composed of massive rock, which includes various minerals and metals. Unlike comets, they lack significant amounts of ice or gas, making 'massive rock' the correct choice.

A __________ is an object made out of rock and ice that orbits the Sun.

• Comet

• Asteroid

• Dwarf Planet

• Moon

Answer explanation

A comet is an object made of rock and ice that orbits the Sun, often developing a tail when close to it. In contrast, asteroids are primarily rocky, dwarf planets are larger and spherical, and moons orbit planets.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Gravity was first described by _______.

• 
  

  Isaac Newton

• John Brown

• Galileo

• Copernicus

Answer explanation

Gravity was first described by Isaac Newton in his work 'Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica' published in 1687, where he formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation.

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

Which of the following is a characteristic of a meteor?

• It is a small body that orbits the Sun

• It is a streak of light in the sky caused by a meteoroid entering Earth's atmosphere

• It is a natural satellite of a planet

• It is a large icy body with a tail

Answer explanation

A meteor is specifically the streak of light produced when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, burning up due to friction. The other options describe different celestial objects, not meteors.

A moon of Jupiter that is the farthest away from Jupiter, full of craters, and made of rock and ice is called _______.

• 
  

  Callisto

• Ganymede

• 
  

  Io

• 
  

  Titan

Answer explanation

Callisto is the farthest moon of Jupiter, characterized by its heavily cratered surface and composition of rock and ice, distinguishing it from the other options listed.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3