Which of the following bodies are the hardest to tell apart because they are made of similar materials ?
a) dwarf planets and comets
b) asteroids and comets
c) comets and meteoroids
d) asteroids and meteoroids***
Yes great job this is definitely right!
The correct answer is option d) asteroids and meteoroids.
To determine this answer, it helps to understand the definitions of these terms and the similarities and differences between them. Here's an explanation of each:
1. Dwarf planets: These are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun and are spherical in shape, but smaller than regular planets. Examples include Pluto and Ceres.
2. Comets: Comets are icy bodies that also orbit the Sun. They are composed of a nucleus (a solid core made of ice and rock) and a visible coma (a cloud of gas and dust that surrounds the nucleus) which develops a tail as it gets closer to the Sun.
3. Asteroids: These are rocky objects that orbit the Sun, primarily found in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter. They can vary in size, with some being quite large.
4. Meteoroids: These are small rocky or metallic fragments in space. When a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere and starts to burn up, it is called a meteor. If it survives the journey through the atmosphere and lands on Earth's surface, it is called a meteorite.
Now, considering the similarities in material composition, both asteroids and meteoroids are made of rock and metal. That is why they are the hardest to tell apart.
On the other hand, dwarf planets, comets, and meteoroids have different compositions or exhibit different characteristics that make them more distinct from each other.
In conclusion, the hardest bodies to tell apart because they are made of similar materials are asteroids and meteoroids.