Deck 3: Near-Earth Objects

Question 1

Use the following diagram to answer this question


-These have orbiting satellites.

A) Comets only
B) Comets and asteroids
C) Asteroids only
D) Neither asteroids nor comets

Answer 1

Neither asteroids nor comets

Question 2

Use the following diagram to answer this question


-Most orbit between Mars and Jupiter.

A) Comets only
B) Comets and asteroids
C) Asteroids only
D) Neither asteroids nor comets

Answer 2

Asteroids only

Question 3

Use the following diagram to answer this question


-Short period versions of this come from the Kuiper belt.

A) Comets only
B) Comets and asteroids
C) Asteroids only
D) Neither asteroids nor comets

Answer 3

Comets only

Question 4

Use the following diagram to answer this question


-Long period versions of this come from the Oort cloud.

A) Comets only
B) Comets and asteroids
C) Asteroids only
D) Neither asteroids nor comets

Question 5

Use the following diagram to answer this question


-These are known to pass close to Earth.

A) Comets only
B) Comets and asteroids
C) Asteroids only
D) Neither asteroids nor comets

Question 6

Use the following diagram to answer this question


-These are mostly made of rock and/or metal.

A) Comets only
B) Comets and asteroids
C) Asteroids only
D) Neither asteroids nor comets

Question 7

How is the following paragraph consistent with the nature of science?
This is an excerpt from the NASA NEO website. "As is often the case, the possibility of future Earth impacts for some near-Earth objects cannot be entirely ruled out until the uncertainties associated with their trajectories are reduced as a result of either future position observations, or in this case, heretofore unrecognized, pre-discovery observations. When these additional observations were used to update the orbit of 2004 MN4, the uncertainties associated with this object's future positions in space were reduced to such an extent that none of the object's possible trajectories can impact the Earth (or Moon) in 2029."

A) Science relies on empirical observations.
B) Science is tentative.
C) Science is limited by technology.
D) All of the choices are correct.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question 8

Complete the concept map displayed below by selecting the correct response from the answers provided.


-Complete the concept map by selecting the correct response from the answers provided for number 1.

A) bodies
B) comets
C) meteorites

Question 9

Complete the concept map displayed below by selecting the correct response from the answers provided.


-Complete the concept map by selecting the correct response from the answers provided for number 2.

A) Mars and Jupiter
B) Jupiter and Neptune
C) Earth and Mars

Question 10

Complete the concept map displayed below by selecting the correct response from the answers provided.


-Complete the concept map by selecting the correct response from the answers provided for number 3.

A) Kuiper belt
B) Oort Cloud
C) Outside the solar system

Question 11

Complete the concept map displayed below by selecting the correct response from the answers provided.


-Complete the concept map by selecting the correct response from the answers provided for number 4.

A) Jupiter
B) Mars
C) Earth

Question 12

Complete the concept map displayed below by selecting the correct response from the answers provided.


-Complete the concept map by selecting the correct response from the answers provided for number 5.

A) Ice and rock
B) Dust
C) Iron and nickel

Question 13

Complete the concept map displayed below by selecting the correct response from the answers provided.


-Complete the concept map by selecting the correct response from the answers provided for number 6.

A) Ice and rock
B) Dust
C) Iron and nickel

Question 14

Does the Torino scale have a category for meteorites?

A) No, they are too small to cause damage.
B) No, most burn up in the atmosphere.
C) Yes, they are included in level 0.
D) Yes, they are included in level 10.

Question 15

Suppose you were tasked to evaluate the damage risk posed by a comet that was headed toward earth. Based on what you know about the average properties of comets, how would you evaluate the risk variables of density and speed for such a comet (as compared to other NEO's)?

A) High risk due to the density, low risk due to the average speed.
B) High risk due to the density, high risk due to the average speed.
C) Low risk due to the density, low risk due to the average speed.
D) Low risk due to the density, high risk due to the average speed.

Question 16

Think about the orbits of Kuiper belt comets, Oort cloud comets and asteroids. Place them in order from longest to shortest average amount of time required for each of them to orbit the sun.

A) Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, asteroid
B) Oort cloud, Kuiper belt, asteroid
C) Asteroid, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud

Question 17

-Use the Venn Diagram for composition of NEOs to answer this question. Which letter corresponds to rock and/or dust material?

A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.

Question 18

-Use the Venn Diagram for composition of NEOs to answer this question. Which letter corresponds to abundant metallic material?

A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.

Question 19

How large would an asteroid have to be to generate an impact crater the size of the Chicxulub crater?

A) 2 kilometers in diameter
B) 20 kilometers in diameter
C) 200 kilometers in diameter

Question 20

What scale predicts the potential threat posed by an asteroid impact?

A) Richter scale
B) Torino scale
C) Fujita scale

Question 21

Many things can happen when a large NEO strikes earth. Consider only ejecta for a moment. How and why would ejecta affect short term climate (over a few months)?

A) Raise global temperatures by trapping solar energy.
B) Lower global temperatures by blocking solar energy.
C) Ejecta would have no affect on earth's solar energy.

Question 22

How long have asteroids been striking Earth?

A) During the last million years of geologic time
B) During the last 100 million years of geologic time
C) During the last billion years of geologic time
D) Since Earth formed

Question 23

Which impact is thought to be responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs?

A) Tunguska
B) Meteor Crater
C) Chicxulub

Question 24

Asteroids large enough to destroy most life have been documented to strike Earth in the past.

Question 25

Comets have actually been observed striking a planet in our Solar system.

Question 26

Complex and simple craters have a central peak.

Question 27

We may be able to prevent an asteroid impact.

Question 28

There are currently no known asteroids with a Torino scale rating 3 or above.

Question 29

Most comet orbits are shorter than most asteroids orbits.