Types of space rock
What is an asteroid?
Where do short-period comets come from?
The Kuiper Belt.
True or False: All comets come from the same place.
False
Define asteroid.
A rocky space object that orbits the sun.
What is one thing you learned from the NASA article?
The difference between asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
What is a comet?
An icy object with a glowing tail that orbits the sun.
Where do long-period comets come from?
The Oort Cloud.
What is a point of confusion about Trojan asteroids?
How they stay in orbit with planets without crashing.
Define comet.
An icy space object with a tail, orbiting the sun.
What is a surprising fact about comets covered in your notes?
Comets have two different tails.
What is a meteoroid?
A small piece of space rock.
How can you tell which region a comet comes from?
By the length and shape of its orbit.
What is an example of a Trojan asteroid?
Asteroids that share Jupiter’s orbit.
Define meteoroid.
A small bit of rock or debris in space.
Summarize what the video contributed to your understanding.
Video explains differences between comets, asteroids, meteoroids.
What happens when a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere?
It becomes a meteor.
What are the two tails of a comet called?
The dust tail and the gas tail.
What clue helps scientists know a comet’s origin?
The orbital period (length of its orbit).
Define meteor.
A meteoroid that burns in Earth’s atmosphere.
What is an additional factor that might explain Trojan asteroid behavior?
Planetary gravity or formation factors.
What is a meteorite?
A meteor that lands on Earth.
Why do the two tails point in slightly different directions?
Because solar wind and dust particles behave differently.
Give an example of an orbit-sharing asteroid discovered for a planet other than Jupiter.
Mars or Earth.
Define meteorite.
A meteor that hits Earth’s surface.
Explain how the dust and gas tails on comets are created.
Gas forms the straight tail from solar wind. Dust curves from slower movement.