Green Worksheet for Astronomy Unit

Part 5.  Asteroids & Meteors

(green)

  1. What evidence is there of meteorite impacts on many planets and moons in our solar systems?  (pg. 720)

 

 

  1. What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid?  (pg. 739 & 743)

 

 

  1. Where & what is the asteroid belt?  Why do scientists think it is where it is?

 

 

  1. How large are most meteors?

 

 

  1. What is the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and a meteorite?

 

 

  1. How does the crate in Arizona relate to this topic and when did it form?  (pg. 740)

 

 

  1. What do scientists think caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic period?  (look up Mesozoic period in the index)

 

 

  1. What causes meteor showers which occur at the same time each year?  (pg. 743)

 

 

Part 6.  Comets

 

  1. What are comets composed of?

 

 

  1. Draw and label a comet with each of the parts clearly shown.

 

 

  1. What direction does the tail of a comet point and why?

 

 

  1. What is the Oort cloud and where is it located?

 

 

  1. What may cause a comet to start an elliptical orbit?

 

 

  1. What is the Kuiper Belt (KIE puhr BELT) and what is its significance?

 

© lbranch 2013