A ___ becomes a ___ when it lands on Earth's surface.
*
2 points
meteor; meteorite
meteorite; meteor
asteroid; meteorite
meteor; comet
A meteor becomes a meteorite when it lands on Earth's surface.
To arrive at this answer, we can start by understanding the terms given in the options.
1. Meteor: A meteor is a space rock that enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, creating a bright streak of light in the sky. It is often referred to as a shooting star.
2. Meteorite: A meteorite is a meteor that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface.
3. Asteroid: An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the Sun. When an asteroid enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, it becomes a meteor.
4. Comet: A comet is a celestial object composed of ice, dust, and other organic compounds that orbits the Sun. When a comet enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up, it also becomes a meteor.
Given the definitions above, we can eliminate options 3 and 4 because they pair the term 'meteor' with incorrect objects.
Considering option 1, 'meteor' does not become 'comet' when it lands on Earth's surface.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 2: a meteor becomes a meteorite when it lands on Earth's surface.