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CC 23 Meteors

Total questions: 10

Worksheet time: 5mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What are physical specimens from space that can be examined in a lab called?

a)

Meteors

b)

Meteorites

c)

Meteoroids

d)

Asteroids

2.

What causes the phenomenon commonly known as a "shooting star"?

a)

A tiny bit of space debris burning up in Earth's atmosphere.

b)

A star falling from the sky.

c)

A comet passing close to Earth.

d)

A planet reflecting sunlight.

3.

What is the term for a piece of solid space material that is still in space, before it enters Earth's atmosphere?

a)

Meteor

b)

Meteoroid

c)

Meteorite

d)

Comet

4.

What is the term for the bright streak of light observed when a space rock burns up in Earth's atmosphere?

a)

Meteoroid

b)

Meteorite

c)

Meteor

d)

Asteroid

5.

What is the approximate maximum speed at which a meteoroid can enter Earth's atmosphere?

a)

11 kilometers per second

b)

30 kilometers per second

c)

70 kilometers per second

d)

100 kilometers per second

6.

What is the primary reason meteoroids heat up to incandescence when entering Earth's atmosphere?

a)

Friction with air.

b)

Compression of air in front of the meteoroid.

c)

Chemical reactions with atmospheric gases.

d)

Radiation from the sun.

7.

What is the primary source of the material that causes annual meteor showers?

a)

Asteroids colliding in the asteroid belt.

b)

Dust and gravel trails left by comets.

c)

Debris from planetary formation.

d)

Fragments from the Moon.

8.

Why are more meteors typically seen after local midnight?

a)

The Earth's rotation aligns with the meteor stream.

b)

That side of Earth is facing into its orbital path.

c)

The atmosphere is thinner on that side of Earth.

d)

The moon's gravity pulls more meteors towards Earth.

9.

How old is the oldest known meteorite?

a)

Approximately 3.5 billion years old.

b)

Approximately 4.0 billion years old.

c)

Approximately 4.568 billion years old.

d)

Approximately 5.0 billion years old.

10.

What was the approximate size of the meteor that exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013?

a)

About 5 meters across.

b)

About 10 meters across.

c)

About 19 meters across.

d)

About 50 meters across.