Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors Quiz

If a rocky object in our Solar System is smaller than 10 meters, it will probably be called _____.

• 1. an asteroid

• 1. a meteoroid

• 1. a star

• 1. a comet

What part of Earth is responsible for breaking apart many asteroids that collide with us?

• 1. celestial sphere

• 1. oceans

• 1. atmosphere

• 1. magnetosphere

If a rocky object in our Solar System is larger than 10 meters, it will probably be called _____.

• 1. a meteoroid

• 1. a comet

• 1. a star

• 1. an asteroid

Which is NOT an object found in our Solar System?

• 1. pulsar

• 1. comet

• 1. meteoroid

• 1. asteroid

Many asteroids are found in our Solar System between the orbits of _____ and _____.

• 1. Mars and Jupiter

• 1. Mercury and Venus

• 1. Earth and Mars

• 1. Jupiter and Saturn

What is a comet's orbit?

• 1. Its path around the sun

• 1. Its distance from the sun

• 1. The tail

• 1. The head

How often is Halley's comet visible to humans on Earth?

• 1. Every 750 years

• 1. Every 10 years

• 1. Every 75 years

• 1. Every 1000 years

What can change a comet's orbit?

• 1. The distance from the sun

• 1. The age of the comet

• 1. The gravitational pull of a planet close by

• 1. The size of the comet

In which direction does a comet's tail always point?

• 1. Towards the moon

• 1. Away from the moon

• 1. Away from the sun

• 1. Towards the sun

What is the nucleus of a comet?

• 1. The amount of time it takes to complete an orbit

• 1. The path it follows around the sun

• 1. The large center containing ice, dust and rocks

• 1. The tail pointing away from the sun