Part 5. Asteroids & Meteors
(green)
- What evidence is there of meteorite impacts on many planets and moons in our solar systems? (pg. 720)
- What is the difference between an asteroid and a meteoroid? (pg. 739 & 743)
- Where & what is the asteroid belt? Why do scientists think it is where it is?
- How large are most meteors?
- What is the difference between a meteor, meteoroid, and a meteorite?
- How does the crate in Arizona relate to this topic and when did it form? (pg. 740)
- 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)
- What causes meteor showers which occur at the same time each year? (pg. 743)
Part 6. Comets
- What are comets composed of?
- Draw and label a comet with each of the parts clearly shown.
- What direction does the tail of a comet point and why?
- What is the Oort cloud and where is it located?
- What may cause a comet to start an elliptical orbit?
- What is the Kuiper Belt (KIE puhr BELT) and what is its significance?