Comets, Asteroids, and Meteors

What are comets composed of?

• Gas and plasma

• Ice and salt

• Dust and rock mixed with frozen water, methane, and ammonia

• Metal and iron

What are the small pieces of dust and rock called?

• Comets

• Asteroids

• Meteoroids

• Moon rocks

What is the difference between a meteoroid and a meteor?

• Meteoroids are made of iron, while meteors are made of rock

• Meteoroids are larger than meteors

• Meteoroids are harmless, while meteors can cause damage

• Meteoroids are in space, while meteors burn up in the earth's atmosphere

What is a meteorite?

• A meteoroid that hits the earth's surface

• A comet that passes through the Earth's atmosphere

• A piece of rock similar to the material formed into planets

• A meteoroid that burns up in the earth's atmosphere

What percentage of meteorites are rock?

• 90%

• 50%

• 10%

• 5%

What is an asteroid?

• A comet that passes through the Earth's atmosphere

• A small planet

• A moon of a planet

• A piece of rock similar to the material formed into planets

Where are most asteroids located?

• Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter

• Between the orbits of Earth and Mars

• Between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn

• Between the orbits of Venus and Earth

What is the largest asteroid?

• Ceres

• Vesta

• Eros

• Pallas

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Where do scientists believe asteroids came from?

• Pieces of meteoroids

• Relics from the time the solar system was born and maybe broken apart planets

• Pieces of the moon

• Pieces of other comets

What could happen if an asteroid hits Earth?

• Formation of a new island

• Nothing, asteroids are harmless

• Significant damage and destruction

• Increase in global temperature

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-2