A scientist discovers a deep bowl-like divot under the ocean off the coast of eastern Mexico that is many kilometers across. The layers of the ground all around the continent from around the time that structure formed contain large amounts of iridium and a larger number of fossils than is normally found. What most likely caused the bowl-like structure?
an asteroid impact
a meteorite impact
an iridium spike
a Kuiper object impact
The most likely cause of the bowl-like structure would be an asteroid impact. The presence of large amounts of iridium, as well as an increased number of fossils in the surrounding layers, are indicative of an impact event. Iridium is rare in the Earth's crust but more abundant in asteroids and meteorites, which suggests that a significant amount of it was deposited during the impact. Additionally, the impact would have caused significant destruction, creating the bowl-like structure and potentially leading to an increase in the number of fossils due to the catastrophic ecological changes it brought about. A Kuiper object impact is less likely as Kuiper objects are typically composed of ice and rock rather than iridium-rich material.
What is a small, rocky object that orbits the Sun and is usually found in a belt between Mars and Jupiter?
asteroid
comet
meteor
meteorite
A small, rocky object that orbits the Sun and is usually found in a belt between Mars and Jupiter is called an asteroid.
Abdid is an astronomer who has been observing objects that orbit the Sun in the asteroid belt. He finds a previously undiscovered round, rocky object that is not similar in shape to the rest of the asteroids. What has Abdid most likely found?
a new dwarf planet
a new asteroid
a new moon
a new comet
Abdid most likely found a new dwarf planet. While most objects in the asteroid belt are irregularly shaped asteroids, the fact that he found a round, rocky object that is not similar in shape to the rest suggests that it may meet the criteria for being classified as a dwarf planet. Dwarf planets are spherical or near-spherical objects that orbit the Sun, similar to planets, but have not cleared their orbit of other debris. Given the unique characteristics described, it is most plausible that Abid has discovered a new dwarf planet in the asteroid belt.
Which terms describe space objects that are small chunks of rock and debris that are smaller than 1 km? Select three options
meteoroids
asteroids
meteors
meteorites
comets
The three terms that describe space objects that are small chunks of rock and debris smaller than 1 km are:
1. Meteoroids
2. Asteroids
3. Meteors
Which statement about dwarf planet locations is correct?
Eris is found in the Kuiper Belt and Makemake, Haumea, Ceres, and Pluto are found in the asteroid belt.
Ceres is found in the asteroid belt and Eris, Makemake, Haumea, and Pluto are found in the Kuiper Belt.
Ceres and Pluto are found in the Kuiper Belt and Makemake, Eris, and Haumea are found in the asteroid belt.
Haumea and Makemake are found in the asteroid belt and Pluto, Ceres, and Eris are found in the Kuiper Belt.
The correct statement about dwarf planet locations is:
Ceres is found in the asteroid belt and Eris, Makemake, Haumea, and Pluto are found in the Kuiper Belt.
Iridium is a substance found only in asteroids and other space objects. This graph shows the amount of Iridium found in different sediment layers of Earth. They are marked off into 17 sections representing time.
Iridium Levels graph shows Iridium levels in sediment layers. Beginning at sediment layer 1, iridium levels remain between 0 and 5, jumping to a level of 23 between layers 5 and 6, and decreasing to near starting levels at layers 14 through 17.
What most likely happened in sediment layer 5?
A massive volcano erupted, causing global warming and lava flow, which in turn caused mass extinction.
More iridium was produced by space objects and dumped by local factories.
The impact of a space object led to the deposit of a layer of sediment high in iridium.
Fewer impacts lead to a drop in iridium levels and a mass extinction caused by a lack of sunshine.