A meteor shower is caused when Earth passes through a stream of debris left by a comet or asteroid. As these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up, creating the bright streaks in the sky known as meteors.
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MCQs
1. Where do the particles that cause a meteor shower come from?
A) The Moon
B) The Sun
C) Comets or asteroids
D) Other planets
Answer: C) Comets or asteroids
Explanation: The particles that cause meteor showers are debris shed by comets or asteroids. As these celestial bodies orbit the Sun, they leave behind trails of dust and small rocks, which the Earth can encounter.
2. What happens to the debris that causes a meteor shower when it enters the Earth’s atmosphere?
A) It turns into stars
B) It dissolves into thin air
C) It burns up, creating bright streaks
D) It falls to the ground as large rocks
Answer: C) It burns up, creating bright streaks
Explanation: When debris from comets or asteroids enters the Earth’s atmosphere, the friction and heat cause it to burn up. This process creates the glowing trails in the sky that we see as meteors.
3. Why do meteor showers happen at the same time each year?
A) Because the Earth’s atmosphere is clearer
B) Because of the alignment of the planets
C) Because the Earth passes through the same debris fields annually
D) Because the comets visit us yearly
Answer: C) Because the Earth passes through the same debris fields annually
Explanation: Meteor showers are annual events because the Earth’s orbit takes it through the same regions of space debris (left by comets or asteroids) at the same time each year.
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