Small solar system bodies

Small Solar System Bodies:There are various small bodies in the solar system.

Meteors: Meteors are very small stone- like objects that are revolving around the sun. Their existence becomes known only when some of them enter by chance into the earth's atmosphere. When a meteor enteres the atmosphere of the earth, it gets heated due to the friction of the air. The heat produced is so high that the meteor beings to glow and evaporates within a short- time. The path of the meteor, therefore, appears as a streak of light in the night sky. The ,meteors are commonly known as shooting stars although they are not stars.

Meteors

There are 21 meteor showers occur through out the year. They occur mostly between April and December.

Asteroids-These are large pieces of rock or metal and rock Most asteroids orbit the sun between mars and Jupiter. This region is called the asteroid belt. Asteroids are also called as minor planets. The biggest asteroids are hundereds of kilometers in diametres in diameter whereas tthe samllest are only hundered of metres in diameter. These can be seen only through the large telescope.

Comets- Apart from planets and asteroids there are some other heavenly (or celestial) bodies which revolve around the sun in highly elliptical orbits. These are comets. Comets are very small sized celestial bodies. They become visible from the earth only when they come close to the sun. These are small chunks of ice and dust that revolve around the sun.They are characterised with a small head followed with a long tail. The length of the tail of a comet grows in size as it apporaches the sun. The tail disappears again when the comet moves away from the sun. However, the tail of a comet is always directed away from the sun. Many comets are known to appear again and again after a definite period of time.

Halley's comet, appears after nearly 76 years. Halley's comet was last seen in early 1986.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

Meteor is _____________
A. A rapidly moving star
B. A piece of matter which has entered the earth's atmosphere from outer space
C. Part of a constellation
D. A comet without a tail
Right Option : B
View Explanation

Question : 2

The comets revolve around ____________.
A. Sun
B. Earth
C. Venus
D. No single heavenly body
Right Option : A
View Explanation

Question : 3

Meteors are very _______________________ like objects that are revolving around the sun.
A. Small stone		B. Big stone
C. Big ice		D. All of these
Right Option : A
View Explanation