A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic object that orbits the Sun, typically ranging in size from a grain of sand to a boulder. Meteoroids become meteors when they enter a planet's atmosphere and burn up, creating a visible streak of light in the sky.
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Meteoroids are the source of most meteor showers, which occur when the Earth passes through the debris stream of a comet or asteroid.
The size of a meteoroid can range from a tiny grain of dust to several meters in diameter, with the largest known meteoroid being the Willamette Meteorite, which weighs over 15 tons.
The speed of a meteoroid can reach up to 70 kilometers per second (44 miles per second) as it enters a planet's atmosphere.
Meteoroids are constantly being pulled towards the Sun by its gravitational force, and some eventually collide with planets or moons in the solar system.
The study of meteoroids and their impact on planets and moons provides valuable information about the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Review Questions
Explain how a meteoroid becomes a meteor and then a meteorite.
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metallic object that orbits the Sun. When a meteoroid enters a planet's atmosphere, it heats up due to friction with the air, creating a visible streak of light in the sky, which is called a meteor. If the meteor is large enough to survive its passage through the atmosphere and reach the surface, the remaining portion is called a meteorite.
Describe the role of meteoroids in the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Meteoroids provide valuable information about the composition and structure of the early solar system. By studying the characteristics of meteoroids, scientists can gain insights into the materials and processes that were present during the formation of the planets and other celestial bodies. Additionally, the impact of meteoroids on planets and moons has played a significant role in shaping the surfaces and atmospheres of these bodies over time.
Analyze the relationship between meteoroids, meteor showers, and the debris streams of comets and asteroids.
Meteoroids are often the source of meteor showers, which occur when the Earth passes through the debris stream of a comet or asteroid. As the Earth moves through these debris streams, the meteoroids burn up in the atmosphere, creating the visible streaks of light we call meteors. By studying the patterns and characteristics of meteor showers, scientists can better understand the composition and orbits of the parent comets or asteroids, which can provide important insights into the formation and evolution of the solar system.
A meteor is the visible phenomenon that occurs when a meteoroid burns up as it passes through a planet's atmosphere, creating a streak of light in the sky.