Ch 9 ISP 205

Astronomy ISP 205

The asteroid belt lies between the orbits of

Mars and Jupiter.

Jupiter nudges the asteroids through the influence of

Orbital resonances.

Can an asteroid be pure metal?

Yes, it could be the core of a shattered asteroid.

Did a large terrestrial planet ever form in the region of the asteroid belt?

No, because Jupiter prevented one from accreting.

Terrestrial Planet

A planet with a solid surface and a metallic core.

Dwarf Planet

A planet that is nearly round but has not been able to clear its orbit of debris.

Jovian Planet

A planet with a gaseous surface made of hydrogen, helium, and ice.

How big an object causes a typical shooting star?

A grain of sand

About how often does a 1-kilometer object strike the Earth?

every million years

What would happen if a 1-kilometer object struck the Earth?

It would cause widespread devastation.

Which have the most elliptical and tilted orbits?

Oort cloud comets

Which are thought to have formed farthest from the Sun?

Kuiper belt comets

What does Pluto most resemble?

a comet

Which statement about asteroids, Kuiper belt and Oort cloud objects is true?

The asteroid belt and Kuiper belt orbit the Sun in nearly the same plane as the planets, but Oort cloud objects do not.

What is NOT true of all comets in our solar system?

Comets always have tails.

Which direction do a comet's dust and plasma tails point?

away from the sun

According to current evidence, Pluto is best explained as ______.

a member of the Kuiper belt

Evidence that an asteroid killed the dinosaurs

A thick layer of iridium and the Chicxulub crater near the Gulf of Mexico.

Causes for global warming

Burning of fossil fuels and human activity.

Correlation global warming

Increased greenhouse gas traps heat, leading to rising temperatures.

How does the carbon cycle keep a climate stable?

Regulates CO2 and keeps temperatures habitable.

Scientific evidence for global warming

Increased human activity aligns with increasing temperatures.