Answer – Meteoroids are bodies made up of rock or iron that orbit the Sun and are present throughout the solar system. 

Explanation:

There is an asteroid belt between the planets of Mars and Jupiter that orbits around the Sun. When collisions occur between these asteroids, chunks of them fly off into different directions, away from the asteroid belt. Pieces of this debris are called meteoroids. Being the result of collisions among asteroids, they are of the same materials in the asteroids. They are however, much smaller. In fact, most rocky substances in space that are not planets, but smaller than asteroids are called meteoroids. 

Meteoroids are also shed by the tails of comets, and are created when celestial bodies crash into moons and/or planets that do not have an atmosphere. 

Under the influence of the Sun’s gravitational force, meteoroids orbit and are found throughout the solar system and beyond. They travel at various speeds, the fastest among which are 26 miles per second.

The difference between meteoroids, meteors and meteorites is one of the manner of their interaction with the Earth and its atmosphere. They are called meteoroids whilst they are in space. If upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere, the meteoroid burns up, it is called a meteor. It has no impact on the surface of the Earth. However, if the meteoroid survives its entry into the atmosphere and crashes onto the surface, it is called a meteorite.

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