Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary difference between a meteor and a meteorite?
What is the primary difference between a meteor and a meteorite?
- A meteor is larger than a meteorite.
- A meteorite burns up completely in the atmosphere; a meteor does not.
- A meteor is a shooting star; a meteorite reaches Earth’s surface. (correct)
- A meteorite is made of different material than a meteor.
Most meteorites land on land rather than in the ocean.
Most meteorites land on land rather than in the ocean.
False (B)
What are the holes left by meteorite impacts on Earth's surface called?
What are the holes left by meteorite impacts on Earth's surface called?
craters or astroblemes
Scientists believe that a meteorite impact, approximately 65 million years ago, likely contributed to the extinction of the ______.
Scientists believe that a meteorite impact, approximately 65 million years ago, likely contributed to the extinction of the ______.
Match the following impact craters with their approximate ages:
Match the following impact craters with their approximate ages:
Flashcards
What is a meteorite?
What is a meteorite?
A celestial body that reaches Earth without being entirely burned up in the atmosphere.
What is a crater (astrobleme)?
What is a crater (astrobleme)?
A hole in the ground created by a meteorite impact.
What is a meteorite impact?
What is a meteorite impact?
A phenomenon when a large meteorite strikes the ground.
What is the Pingualuit crater?
What is the Pingualuit crater?
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What is the Manicouagan Reservoir?
What is the Manicouagan Reservoir?
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Study Notes
Meteorite Impacts
- Every day, Earth encounters fragments of rock and dust from asteroid collisions and comets
- Earth's gravity attracts these objects
- As they enter the atmosphere, they burn up, creating trails of light (meteors)
- If a meteor is small, it's completely destroyed in the atmosphere. Larger meteors may not be entirely destroyed and reach the ground – these are called meteorites
- Meteorites leave behind craters (also known as astroblemes)
Meteor vs. Meteorite
- A meteor is a meteoroid that burns up in Earth's atmosphere
- A meteorite is a meteoroid that survives its passage through the atmosphere and reaches Earth's surface
Signs Of Meteorite Impacts
- Meteorite impacts reshape terrain in various ways
- Examples in Quebec include the Pingualuit and Manicouagan craters
- Specific features like craters and depressions in the landscape can indicate past impacts
- Many occurrences happen only every 1000 years or so.
Dinosaur Extinction and Meteorite Impacts
- A large crater near Mexico's coast dates back 65 million years, coinciding with dinosaur extinction
- Asteroid or comet impacts can trigger mass extinction events.
- It is likely a meteorite or asteroid impact caused the dinosaur extinction.
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