CHAPTER 13 METEOROID, ASTEROID, COMET

Meteoroids, Asteroids and Comets

1 Besides galaxies, planets and stars, there are other objects in the Solar System which are meteoroids,
asteroids and comets.

Meteoroids • Small solid bodies that move in outer space

• Consist of rock fragments and small metals
• Originate from fragments of asteroids and comets
• The surface temperature is approximately 0oC
• Moves freely
• Has smaller size and mass than asteroids and comets
causing it to be influenced easily by gravitational force
Asteroids • Consists of rocks and metals such as iron and nickel that
are very big in outer space
• Irregular shapes and has cratered surface
• No atmosphere
• They are also known as small planets
•The surface temperature is approximately -73 °C
• Asteroid orbits around the Sun

Comets • Small solid bodies that consist of ice, rock, dusts and
frozen gas
• Orbit around the Sun in an elliptical-shaped orbit
• Have bluish gas tails and curved white tails with dust
particles

The Movement of Meteoroids, Asteroids and Comets

Movement of a meteoroid
1 Meteoroids move freely in outer space and are easily influenced by the gravitational force.
2 The movement of a meteoroid is shown in Figure 13.1.

Rock fragments and small metals that float and move in outer space.
Meteoroid that enters the Earth’s
atmosphere rubs against the gas
molecules and produces high
amount of heat until the meteoroid
is burned.
The burned meteoroid produces
bright light streaks called meteor.
Meteor showers occur when a
large number of meteors enter the
Earth simultaneously.

Large meteoroids that do not burn will crash onto the surface of
the Earth as meteorites. The impact of meteorites results in
the formation of craters.

1
 Movement of an asteroid

1 Most of the asteroids orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt that is location between Mars and Jupiter.
2 Asteroids move with an average speed of 25 km s- l.
3 However, Apollo, Amor and Aten asteroids orbit outside of the asteroid belt.
4 The orbits of asteroid can cross with the orbit of the Earth and collide with the Earth at the intersection
point or track near the Earth's orbit and orbit of the asteroids.
5 The collisions between the Earth and asteroids can cause damage to the Earth and its living things.
6 Hence, scientists always monitor the asteroids in outer space to ensure the asteroids do not collide with the
Earth.
7 Normally, asteroids that are closer to the Earth will be destroyed or changed its direction of motion.

Trojan asteroid
Asteroid that shares an orbit with other planets like Jupiter.

Figure 13.2
Movement of a comet
1 Most of the comets can be found in the Kuiper belt and the Oort cloud.
2 Comet orbits the Earth in an elliptical-shaped orbit.
3 Comet moves with an average speed of 10 – 70 km s -1.
4 The strong gravitational force of outer planets causes comets to be pulled out from its orbit easily.
5 A comet that is out of its orbit is at risk to collide with the Earth at a high speed.