Which is most likely to make a more frequent “visitor” of Earth: comet or asteroid (Based on the table of Comparison of some characteristics of comets and asteroids)? Why do you think so?

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1LR
icon
Related questions
Question

Which is most likely to make a more frequent “visitor” of Earth: comet or asteroid (Based on the table of Comparison of some characteristics of comets and asteroids)? Why do you think so?

 

Comparison of some characteristics of comets and asteroids
Characteristic
Comet
Asteroid
Origin
Shape
Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud
Main Asteroid Belt
Varied/Irregular
Varied/Irregular
Size range of diameter
1-10 km (nucleus only)
1- 100++
(kilometer)
Ice (frozen water); frozen gases (ammonia,
Chemical composition methane, and carbon dioxide); other organic
Silicates (olivine and pyroxene), iron, nickel
compounds (Carboncontaining compounds)
Highly elliptical
75 to 100,000++
Orbit
More rounded
Orbital period (years)
1-100
Transcribed Image Text:Comparison of some characteristics of comets and asteroids Characteristic Comet Asteroid Origin Shape Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud Main Asteroid Belt Varied/Irregular Varied/Irregular Size range of diameter 1-10 km (nucleus only) 1- 100++ (kilometer) Ice (frozen water); frozen gases (ammonia, Chemical composition methane, and carbon dioxide); other organic Silicates (olivine and pyroxene), iron, nickel compounds (Carboncontaining compounds) Highly elliptical 75 to 100,000++ Orbit More rounded Orbital period (years) 1-100
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Recommended textbooks for you
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science …
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science …
Earth Science
ISBN:
9780134746241
Author:
Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:
PEARSON
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Exercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:
9780134041360
Author:
Greg Carbone
Publisher:
PEARSON
Environmental Science
Environmental Science
Earth Science
ISBN:
9781260153125
Author:
William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science (15th Edition)
Earth Science
ISBN:
9780134543536
Author:
Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:
PEARSON
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Earth Science
ISBN:
9781337569613
Author:
G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Physical Geology
Physical Geology
Earth Science
ISBN:
9781259916823
Author:
Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, Lisa
Publisher:
Mcgraw-hill Education,