Comet Watch PREFLIGHT

Please type your first name: Please type your LAST NAME and LAST FOUR SS# digits: IN:

The following questions refer to the material you were to read in preparation for the lesson.

You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses, click the SUBMIT button at the bottom of this page. Don't submit more than once. (If you absolutely HAVE to resubmit it, put a note on the end to that effect.) Some of the Java applets are a bit stubborn. If they don't appear to work the first time, hold down the Shift key while clicking on the Reload button (in Netscape). If that doesn't do it, try exiting your browser and restarting it.


Comets

The following applet shows the path of a comet moving through the solar system. Use the sliders to get a good view of the comet, and then use the fast forward to find at what date the comet will pass the orbit of Pluto.
Question: Is this a long period or a short period comet? Did it come from the Oort Cloud or the Kuiper Belt? How many years was it inside the solar system (inside Pluto's orbit)?




honors extra

The book argues that Asteroids are "failed" planets, that never got their act together to form a real planet. If so, then how is it some meteorites are solid Nickel-Iron house-sized objects (such as the one that made Barringer Crater, AZ) that demonstrate millions of years of crystal growth?







Below is a space for your thoughts, including general comments about today's assignment (what seemed impossible, what reading didn't make sense, what we should spend class time on, what was "cool", etc. ):




You may change your mind as often as you wish. When you are satisfied with your responses, click the SUBMIT button.

I received no help from anyone on this assignment.