MCQ
Q.
The comet known as Halley's Comet has an average period of orbit of
Correct Answer: D
The correct answer is 76 years.
Key Points
- Comets:
- Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases, rock, and dust that orbit the Sun.
- When a comet's orbit brings it close to the Sun, it heats up and spews dust and gases into a giant glowing head larger than most planets.
- Example:
- Halley's Comet:
- It is a periodic comet and returns to Earth's vicinity about every 76 years.
- The last time it was seen in 1986, and it is projected to return in 2062.
- Halley's Comet:
- Asteroids:
- They are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun.
- They are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
- Asteroids are parts of a planet that exploded many years back.
- Meteoroids (space rocks):
- The small pieces of rocks which move around the sun are called meteoroids.
- Meteors:
- When meteoroids enter Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and burn up, the fireballs or shooting stars are called meteors.
- Meteorite:
- When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, then it is called a meteorite.
- When a meteoroid survives a trip through the atmosphere and hits the ground, then it is called a meteorite.
