Which term describes a rocky body in space that has not yet entered Earth's atmosphere?

Which term describes a rocky body in space that has not yet entered Earth's atmosphere?

• A. Meteors in space
• B. Meteoroid in space
• C. Meteoroid
• D. Meteorite

Answer: (C)

When scientists talk about rocky bodies in relation to Earth, they differentiate by where the object is. In space, a small rocky or metallic body is called a meteoroid. The name changes as it interacts with Earth: if it enters the atmosphere, it glows as a meteor; if any part of it survives and lands on the ground, it’s a meteorite. So a rocky body that hasn’t yet entered Earth’s atmosphere is best described as a meteoroid. The other phrases describe either the light phenomenon seen in the sky (meteor) or the piece that reaches the surface (meteorite).

When scientists talk about rocky bodies in relation to Earth, they differentiate by where the object is. In space, a small rocky or metallic body is called a meteoroid. The name changes as it interacts with Earth: if it enters the atmosphere, it glows as a meteor; if any part of it survives and lands on the ground, it’s a meteorite. So a rocky body that hasn’t yet entered Earth’s atmosphere is best described as a meteoroid. The other phrases describe either the light phenomenon seen in the sky (meteor) or the piece that reaches the surface (meteorite).