QUIZ 1.3

Question 1

The process by which dust and gas accumulate into larger bodies protoplanets,
through gravity.

Answer 1

ACCRETION

Question 2

Asteroids big enough that a spaceship can land on them and people can walk on
their surface.

Answer 2

PLANETOIDS

Question 3

A term that refers to very tiny meteoroids, also known as cosmic dusts.

Answer 3

MICROMETEORIODS

Question 4

• A local term that refers to shooting stars or meteors.

Answer 4

BULALAKAW

Question 5

The solid, central part of a comet, composed of rock, dust, and frozen gases.

Answer 5

NUCLEUS

Question 6

• The nebulous envelope of gas and dust that forms around a comet’s nucleus when it is
  near the Sun.

Answer 6

COMA

Question 7

The process by which a comet’s frozen gases turn directly from solid to gas when
heated by the Sun.

Answer 7

SUBLIMATION

Question 8

A large meteor that explodes in the atmosphere, producing a bright flash and possibly a
sonic boom.

Answer 8

BOLIDE

Question 9

• The point in the sky from which meteors in a shower appear to originate.

Answer 9

RADIANT

Question 10

• A type of stony meteorite containing small mineral grains.

Answer 10

CHONDRITE

Question 11

A layer of loose, heterogeneous material covering solid rock, found on the surface of
planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.

Answer 11

REGOLITH

Question 12

• The point in a comet’s orbit where it is closest to the Sun.

Answer 12

PERIHELION

Question 13

• The point in a comet’s orbit where it is farthest from the Sun.

Answer 13

APHELION

Question 14

• The process where a meteoroid burns up due to friction with Earth’s atmosphere,
  creating the meteor’s visible trail.

Answer 14

ABLATION

Question 15

A type of glassy object formed by the melting of terrestrial debris during a meteorite
impact.

Answer 15

TETKITE

Question 16

• A well-known Near-Earth asteroid that will have close encounters with Earth in the future.

Answer 16

APOPHIS

Question 17

The process by which an asteroid separates into layers (core, mantle, crust)
based on the density of materials, often seen in larger asteroids.

Answer 17

DIFFERENTIATION

Question 18

The bending of light around a massive object, like an asteroid or planet, which can be
used to detect objects in space.

Answer 18

LENSING

Question 19

A small celestial body formed from dust and gas in the early solar system, which
can come together to form planets or asteroids.

Answer 19

PLANETESIMAL

Question 20

• The measure of how much sunlight an object reflects; asteroids with low albedo are
  darker, while high-albedo objects are brighter.

Answer 20

ALBEDO

Question 21

The speed an object must reach to break free from a planet’s or celestial
body’s gravitational influence.

Answer 21

ESCAPE VELOCITY

Question 22

• A technique used to analyze the chemical composition of meteorites or
  asteroids to learn more about the materials that make up the solar system.

Answer 22

MASS SPECTROMETRY

Question 23

• A type of small celestial object that has characteristics of both comets and asteroids
  and orbits between Jupiter and Neptune.

Answer 23

CENTAUR

Question 24

The release of gases from a comet’s nucleus as it heats up near the Sun,
contributing to the formation of the coma and tails.

Answer 24

OUTGASSING

Question 25

Rock fragments that have been cemented together by the pressure and heat of a
meteorite impact.

Answer 25

BRECCIA

Question 26

An ancient, stable part of Earth’s crust that is more resistant to meteorite impacts.

Answer 26

CRATON

Question 27

The large impact crater in the Yucatan Peninsula, formed by the asteroid
believed to have caused the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.

Answer 27

CHICXULUB CRATER

Question 28

• Ground, typically found in polar regions, that remains frozen year-round, sometimes
  containing ancient organic material, including meteoritic debris.

Answer 28

PERMAFROST

Question 29

A three-dimensional geometric shape resembling a flattened sphere, often used to
describe the general shape of some asteroids.

Answer 29

ELLIPSOID

Question 30

How does a celestial impact affect Earth’s climate?

Answer 30

A large celestial impact can eject enormous amounts of dust and aerosols into the atmosphere,
blocking sunlight and causing a period of global cooling. This sudden drop in temperature disrupts
climate patterns, leading to freezing conditions and affecting plant growth. Over time, gases like
CO2 can trap heat, creating a greenhouse effect and leading to long-term warming.