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Science questions, chapter 13
Nama / NameKelas / ClassTarikh / Date

Meteoroid, asteroid, comet

39 marks. Use Practice to check each answer as you go, or Exam to answer everything against the clock first.

Section A: objective questions

13 marks
Choose the best answer for each question.
1

Question 1

Which statement describes a meteoroid?
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B
A meteoroid is a floating piece of stone and metal that moves in space. The ice-and-dust body with a tail is a comet, the small planet is an asteroid, and the streak of light is a meteor.
For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 270
2

Question 2

The asteroid belt is found between the orbits of which two planets?
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C
The asteroid belt lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 271
3

Question 3

A comet is made up mostly of
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A
A comet comprises gas and water that freeze into ice, with dust and rocky particles. Iron and nickel are found in meteoroids and asteroids.
For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 271
4

Question 4

A piece of rock from space enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns, leaving a streak of light. What is it called at this stage?
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D
A meteoroid that enters the Earth's atmosphere and burns by friction with the air is called a meteor. It is a meteoroid in space and a meteorite only if it lands.
For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 272
5

Question 5

What is a meteorite?
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A
Meteors that do not burn out and reach the Earth's surface are called meteorites. Many meteors at the same time make a meteor shower.
For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 272
6

Question 6

Why does the tail of a comet always point away from the Sun?
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B
The solar wind blowing from the Sun pushes the gas and dust away, so the tail always points away from the Sun.
For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 274
7

Question 7

An asteroid moves at an average speed of 25 km s⁻¹. How far does it travel in 10 seconds?
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C
Distance = speed × time = 25 × 10 = 250 km.
For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 271
8

Question 8

The fastest meteoroid travels at 42 km s⁻¹. How far does it travel in 5 minutes?
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D
5 minutes = 5 × 60 = 300 s. Distance = 42 × 300 = 12 600 km.
For the teacher: Applying, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 271
9

Question 9

Diagram 1 shows a comet at four positions, P, Q, R and S, in its orbit around the Sun. At which position is the tail drawn wrongly?
A comet at four points of an elliptical orbit around the Sun. The tails at P, R and S point away from the Sun. The tail at Q points towards the Sun.
Diagram 1
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B
A comet's tail always points away from the Sun because of the solar wind. At Q the tail points towards the Sun, so it is drawn wrongly.
For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 274
10

Question 10

Which characteristic is the same for meteoroids and asteroids?
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B
Both are made of stones and metals such as iron and nickel. Ice and a tail belong to comets, and the Kuiper belt is where most comets come from.
For the teacher: Analysing, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 271
11

Question 11

The Moon has many more craters than the Earth. Which is the best reason?
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A
On the Earth most meteors burn up in the atmosphere. The Moon has no atmosphere to burn them, so many meteoroids reach the surface and make craters.
For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 273
12

Question 12

Which statement about the collision of an asteroid with the Earth is correct?
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C
Some asteroid orbits, such as those of Apollo, Amor and Aten, lie outside the belt and can come near or cross the Earth's orbit, so a collision can happen there.
For the teacher: Understanding, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 273
13

Question 13

What is a meteor shower?
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D
A meteor shower happens when many meteors enter the Earth's atmosphere at the same time.
For the teacher: Understanding, low difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 272

Section B: structured questions

26 marks
Answer all questions. Write your answers in the spaces provided.
14

Question 14

A piece of rock and metal travels from outer space to the ground. Choose the name used for it at each stage.
[1 mark] (a)Floating in outer space and travelling around the Sun
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Meteoroid
Floating in space it is a meteoroid.
[1 mark] (b)Burning in the Earth's atmosphere with a streak of light
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Meteor
Once it enters the atmosphere and burns it is a meteor.
[1 mark] (c)Landed on the surface of the Earth
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Meteorite
A piece that reaches the surface is a meteorite.
[1 mark] (d)What may be formed on the ground by the impact of a large meteorite?
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Tick each point you got.
For the teacher: Remembering, low difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 272
15

Question 15

An asteroid travels around the Sun at an average speed of 25 km s⁻¹.
[2 marks] (a)Calculate the distance the asteroid travels in 2 minutes.
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Tick each point you got.
[2 marks] (b)How long, in hours, does it take to travel 90 000 km at this speed?
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Tick each point you got.
For the teacher: Applying, low difficulty, standard 13.1.1
Textbook p. 271
16

Question 16

A comet moves in an elliptical orbit. It takes many years to come near the Sun. When it gets near the Sun, it grows a long tail.
[1 mark] (a)From which two regions do most comets come?
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Tick each point you got.
[2 marks] (b)Explain why the comet grows a tail when it gets near the Sun.
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[2 marks] (c)The comet is moving away from the Sun. Where does its tail point? Give a reason.
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[1 mark] (d)State what may happen if a comet is pulled out of its orbit by the gravity of an outer planet.
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For the teacher: Analysing, low difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 274
17

Question 17

Diagram 2 shows the orbits of the Earth and of two asteroids, P and Q, around the Sun. Asteroid P stays in the asteroid belt.
Orbits around the Sun. The Earth has a small circular orbit. Asteroid P has a large circular orbit in the asteroid belt. Asteroid Q has a long elliptical orbit that crosses the Earth's orbit and reaches beyond the belt.
Diagram 2
[1 mark] (a)Which asteroid has a risk of colliding with the Earth?
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Tick each point you got.
[1 mark] (b)Give a reason for your answer.
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[2 marks] (c)Predict what would happen to living things on the Earth if a very large asteroid hit it.
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[2 marks] (d)Suggest two ways scientists can reduce the chance of an asteroid collision.
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Any 2 points
Tick each point you got.
For the teacher: Creating, medium difficulty, standard 13.1.3
Textbook p. 275
18

Question 18

One theory says the dinosaurs became extinct because a large asteroid hit the Earth about 65 million years ago.
[2 marks] (a)Suggest one way the asteroid impact may have caused the death of the dinosaurs.
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[2 marks] (b)Some scientists disagree with this theory because some dinosaur species became extinct 20 million years before the impact. Justify their opinion.
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[2 marks] (c)Why are meteors more dangerous to astronauts in space than to people on the Earth?
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Tick each point you got.
For the teacher: Evaluating, high difficulty, standard 13.1.2
Textbook p. 278