Download friction Pluto

1
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Word Splash
accretion
asteroids
asteroid belt
Kuiper Belt
gravity
sphere
elliptical
friction
orbits
meteorite
meteor showers
coma
nucleus
tail
Pluto
fragments
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
2
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Anticipation Guide
Directions: Answer the following questions by circling the correct response. Do your best!
1. There is a mathematical formula for the spacing of planets.
True False
2. Asteroids are categorized into 5 basic groups.
True False
3. Accretion is the process through which planets are formed.
True False
4. The asteroid belt lies between Jupiter and Saturn.
True False
5. Most planets orbit in an elliptical pattern.
True False
6. Scientists suggest that an asteroid hitting the earth caused the
extinction of dinosaurs.
True False
7. There are three theories explaining why there is no planet
in the asteroid belt area.
True False
8. If a meteor hits the earth it is called a meteorite.
True False
9. Pluto is categorized as a gas giant.
True False
10. Pluto shares its orbit with Kuiper Belt objects.
True False
11. Comets have five parts.
True False
12. The Oort Cloud can be found in the farthest reaches of the solar system.
True False
13.The Oort Cloud is affected by the sun's gravitational pull.
True False
14. Comets are always moving towards the sun.
True False
15. An estimated ten tons of space dust fall on Earth every day.
True False
After viewing the program, review your answers. See how many questions you answered correctly.
Review the ones you answered incorrectly.
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
3
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Video Quiz
Directions: Now that you have viewed the program, let's challenge your memory by answering some
quiz questions. Fill in the blanks with the correct words. Good luck!
1. The asteroid belt lies between the planets of ____________ and __________________ .
2. _____________________ is the process through which fragments in space are drawn together to
form planets.
3. One theory about asteroids says that Jupiter's strong ____________________ prevented the asteroids from forming a planet.
4. Many scientists believe a strike by an asteroid 65 million years ago helped cause the extinction of
______________________ on Earth.
5. Another, more proper name, for a shooting star is ___________________ .
6. In size, Pluto is the ___________________ of all planet.
7. Kuiper Belt objects are like icy asteroids that share an orbit with which planet? ______________
.
8. A comet has three main parts: the ___________________ , the coma, and the tail.
9. Billions of comets occur in the _______________________ , which lies beyond Pluto and the
Kuiper Belt.
10. A comet's tail always points away from the sun. True or False?
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
4
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Discussion Questions
Directions: Answer the following questions as directed by your teacher.
1. Why were scientists looking for a planet between Jupiter and Mars over 200 year ago?
2. What was actually found between Jupiter and Mars?
3. Scientists often create theories. What is a theory and how is it different from facts?
4. What is one of the theories behind the existence of the asteroid belt?
5. What is the process of accretion?
6. What is a shooting star? What is the scientific name of a shooting star?
7. What can scientists learn form meteorites?
8. How is Pluto Different from the other eight planets?
9. If you were a scientist, would you classify Pluto as a planet?
10. Describe an experience when you have seen a comet. What did it look like? Now that we have
viewed the program, what are the parts of a comet?
11. Where would you find the Oort Cloud? What would you find in the Oort Cloud?
12. Where would you find the Kuiper Belt? What would you find in Kuiper's Belt?
13. Why are comets so amazing to see? (Hint: There are at least two reasons)
14. What is a meteor shower a result of?
15. Why do you think it is important that scientists study objects in space other than the sun and nine
planets?
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
5
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Cloze Activity: A Few Scientific Questions
Directions: Choose the correct word from the word box to complete the paragraph below.
asteroids
accretion
meteors
gravity
asteroid belt
meteorite
fragments
Jupiter
extinction
sphere
shooting stars
Our solar system is extremely complex. There are more objects out there than the sun and nine planets. There are many questions scientists research about our solar system, in the past, present and
future. One question that has been researched is how were planets and space objects formed? One
thing is known, all objects need (1.) ____________________ to be held together. (2.)____________
is the process through which Earth and other planets were formed 4.5 billion years ago. During accretion, (3.)____________________ floating in space were drawn together by the force of gravity. As a
result, they grew into a (4. ) ________________________ shaped object. In the case of asteroids,
gravity was perhaps unable to assemble a new planet because of Jupiter's gravity. Another question
scientists have researched is why there is no planet in between Mars and (5.) __________ . Today we
call the gap the (6.) _______________________ . While the concentration of (7.) _____________ are
heaviest here, small numbers are scattered across the solar system. Another question scientists
research is will any of these objects hit Earth? It is rare that a sizeable asteroid would hit Earth. Many
scientists believed that a huge asteroid hit Earth 65 million years ago, which helped cause the
(8.) _____________________ of dinosaurs. Asteroids do hit each other, creating fragments the size
of a grain of sand. These fragments hit Earth's atmosphere daily. Friction with the air causes them to
burn. We call the flaming streaks (9.) ___________________ , or scientifically, (10.) ____________
. These usually burn or disintegrate before they hit the ground. If a meteor hits Earth, it becomes a
(11.)_____________________ . Scientist study these objects to get a better picture on what exists is
outer space. Maybe one day you will be a scientist and find out more information about these puzzling questions or ask some yourselves.
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
6
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Venn Diagram
Directions: Fill in the Venn Diagram below. Under the circle labeled Rocky Planets, write in everything you know about Rocky Planets. Under the circle labeled Gas Giants, write in everything you
know about Gas Giants. Above the circle labeled Pluto, write everything you know about Pluto. Where
the circles intersect, write any common qualities that they share.
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
7
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Experiment: What's in Space Dust?
Every day fragments from space enter the earth's atmosphere. Have you ever seen any evidence of
this? Collect some rainwater and see what you can discover!
Materials:
❑ Magnet
❑ Clear sandwich bag
❑ Rainwater collected. If it is winter, collect fresh fallen snow and melt.
❑ Hand lens
❑ Popsicle stick
❑ Microscope
❑ Microscope slide
Directions:
1. Put the magnet inside of the plastic bag. Then run the magnet over the rainwater.
2. Use the hand lens to observe what is outside of the baggie.
3. Use the Popsicle stick to rub off any thing collected onto a microscope slide.
4. Write your observations below and answer the questions.
Observations:
1. Use words and pictures to describe what you have found in your rainwater:
Questions:
1. You have been viewing space dust that comes from meteorites. What do you think meteorites are
made of? What did you use in the experiment that made you make this conclusion?
2. What might have caused the meteorites to shape the way they are?
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
8
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Asteroids, Meteors, and Meteorites
Our solar system has many fascinating objects. With a partner, write about three well-known space
objects. Include as many facts as you can. You may view the program again or use additional
resources that you may have in your classroom. Use complete sentences and double-check your
work!
Asteroids:
Meteors:
Meteorites:
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.
9
Name _____________________
Asteroids, Comets, and Pluto: The Small Pieces
Post-Test
Directions: Answer the following questions by circling the correct answer. Remember to double-check your work for accuracy after you have completed the test. Do your best!
1. Asteroids fall into which category?
A. planets
B. metal
C. rock
D. both B & C
2. The Asteroid Belt is located between which 2 planets?
A. Mars and Jupiter
B. Venus and Earth
C. Jupiter and Saturn
D. Neptune and Pluto
3. Which theory supports why asteroids did not form into planets?
A. There was not enough material to make a planet.
B. Jupiter's gravity interfered with the accretion process.
C. The amount of gravity was too little to hold the fragments into a sphere.
D. There were enough planets already.
4. Accretion is which process?
A. The process of asteroids forming.
B. The process through which Earth and other planets were formed billions of years ago.
C. The process of how a comet is formed.
D. The process for how meteors hit the earth's surface.
5. What is the scientific name of a shooting star?
A. Meteorite
B. Comet
C. Meteor
D. Space Dust
6. Which is not true about the planet Pluto?
A. Pluto is the smallest planet.
B. Pluto is made up of ice and rock.
C. Pluto has an elliptical orbit.
D. Pluto shares its space with the asteroid belt.
7. Comets are found beyond Pluto?
A. True
B. False
8. A comets three main parts are a ________________ , tail, and a coma.
a. ice
b. rock
c. dust
d. nucleus
9. Which force is needed to keep planets formed and within their orbit?
A. friction
B. gravity
C. electromagnetic energy
10. Which are true about the Oort Cloud?
A It is close to the earth.
B. It is extremely large.
C. Comets exist within the Oort Cloud.
D. Objects in the Oort Cloud are pulled by gravity and pushed by heat and pressure.
© 2001 Maslowski Wildlife Productions
Published and Distributed by United Learning
All rights to print materials cleared for classroom duplication and distribution.