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Questions and Answers
What are S-type, or stony, asteroids primarily made of?
Where are most asteroids located in the solar system?
What is the center of a comet called?
What causes the bright appearance of comets as they move closer to the sun?
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What is the common term for a rock from space that enters the Earth's atmosphere?
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What is the primary defining characteristic of asteroids?
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Who discovered the first asteroid and when?
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What is the most common type of asteroid?
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What is the approximate diameter of the largest body in the asteroid belt, Ceres?
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How do scientists identify C-type asteroids?
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What is the main difference between asteroids and comets?
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What is the primary difference between meteors and comets?
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What is the primary source of long-period comets?
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How would the impact of a comet differ from the impact of a meteor?
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What is a possible explanation for the origin of comets in the solar system?
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Study Notes
Asteroids
- Asteroids are leftover rock fragments from the formation of the solar system.
- Most asteroids are located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
- There are three types of asteroids: S-type (stony), M-type (metallic), and C-type (chondrite).
- S-type asteroids are made of nickel-iron and silicate materials and appear bright.
- M-type asteroids are composed of nickel-iron and have a bright appearance.
- C-type asteroids are the most common type and are composed of clay and silicate rocks.
Orbit of Asteroids
- Asteroids orbit the sun in varying distances and orbit shapes.
- The orbits are ellipses, with some closer to a circular shape and others more elongated.
- When an asteroid gets close to a large body like Mars or Jupiter, it can be pulled toward the larger body during orbit.
Meteors
- Meteors are rocks from space that enter the Earth's atmosphere.
- When they enter the atmosphere, they begin to burn up and produce a fireball.
- Meteors range in size from a spec of dust to the size of an asteroid.
- Meteors are typically made up of rocks, metal, or a combination of the two.
Origin of Meteors
- Meteors can be created when pieces break off of larger bodies, such as asteroids and comets.
- They can even originate from other planets or the moon.
- Some meteors that we see from Earth during a meteor shower originate from comets.
Meteoroids, Meteors, & Meteorites
- When the rock we refer to as a meteor is still in space, it is called a meteoroid.
- When meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere, they begin to burn up and create a fireball that can be seen from Earth.
- Once in the Earth's atmosphere, they are referred to as meteors.
- Some meteors don't completely burn up when they enter the atmosphere, and the rock falls all the way down to the ground, referred to as meteorites.
Comets
- Comets are believed to be remnants of the formation of the solar system and are made of dust, rocks, and ice.
- As comets move closer to the sun, they heat up and release gases, forming a large head that brightly glows.
- A tail of material follows the comet as it travels through space.
- Comets range in size from a few miles to tens of miles wide.
- Comets are made up of dust, rocks, and ice.
Origin of Comets
- Scientists believe that most comets originated from the Oort Cloud, a large cloud of ice and dust that surrounds our solar system.
- Long-period comets are believed to originate from the Oort Cloud, while short-period comets originate from the Kuiper Belt.
Asteroid vs. Meteor vs. Comet
- Asteroids, meteors, and comets are three different types of celestial bodies that are often confused.
- Asteroids are objects made of rock and metal, while comets are made of rock, ice, and dust.
- Asteroids can be found in the asteroid belt, while comets originate from the Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt.
- Asteroids are one large, solid piece of rock, while a comet releases gases to create a large head with a trailing tail of gases and debris.
Impact of These Objects on Earth
- The impact of a comet, meteor, or asteroid hitting Earth is vastly different due to the size and makeup of these objects.
- Meteors are relatively small and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere before making it to the ground.
- Asteroids are typically much larger than meteors and would have a much more significant impact if one were to hit Earth.
- If a comet were to impact Earth, it would cause catastrophic damage, releasing gases that would cause drastic climate changes, leading to mass extinction.
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Description
Test your knowledge on asteroids, meteors, and comets in the solar system. Learn about their unique characteristics and differences, along with their roles in the formation of the solar system.
