VOCAB: Unit 6

Question 1

Trans-Neptunian Objects**

Answer 1

Icy bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune, eg. pluto and eris

Question 2

Plutiod**

Answer 2

A celestial object that satisfies three conditions: it orbits the Sun at an average distance greater than that of Neptune; it is massive enough that its own gravity brings it to hydrostatic equilibrium, making it near-spherical; and it has not cleared the neighbourhood around its path from other orbiting debris

Question 3

Small Solar System Bodies

Answer 3

A rather unsatisfactory classification as it says nothing about where the bodies might be locater and could even include everything in the Asteroid Belt

Question 4

Scattered Disc **

Answer 4

can be said to start within the Kuiper Belt, but the Scattered Disc extends far beyond

Question 5

Comets**

Answer 5

Small but larger than a meteoroid, mainly icy objects that streak through the Solar System along the Sun-orbiting elliptical tracks

Question 6

Amino Acids

Answer 6

Basic carbon components, building blocks

Question 7

Nucleus

Answer 7

Solid, centrally located part of the comet

Question 8

Long-Period Comets

Answer 8

Take hundreds of thousands of years to complete a single orbit around the Sun

Question 9

Short-Period Comets

Answer 9

Have orbital periods of 200 years or less, Do not venture far beyond the distance of Pluto at aphelion, Tend to have prograde orbits lying near the ecliptic