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Select the correct answer.

Greta is writing a paper on near-Earth objects for her science class. She collected the information shown in the table but forgot to label each object. Based on the data, what is space object B?

\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|}
\hline & \multicolumn{1}{|c|}{ Space Object A } & Space Object B \\
\hline Composition & rocks and some metals & mostly ice \\
\hline Orbital Period & 3 to 6 years & 3.3 to 70,000 years \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

A. an asteroid
B. a comet
C. a meteor
D. a meteorite



Answer :

GinnyAnswer
Certainly! Let's analyze the given data thoroughly to determine what space object B is.

The attributes of Space Object B are as follows:
1. Composition: This space object is made up of "mostly ice."
2. Orbital Period: The orbital period for this object ranges from "3.3 to 70,000 years."

Now, let's match these characteristics to the given options:
- An asteroid: Asteroids are predominantly composed of rocks and metals. They do not fit the description of "mostly ice."
- A comet: Comets are primarily composed of ice and dust. They often have very long and varying orbital periods, which can range from a few years to many thousands of years, matching our given period.
- A meteor: A meteor is a fragment of space debris that enters Earth's atmosphere and burns up. It's not typically categorized by an orbital period.
- A meteorite: A meteorite is a fragment of a meteor that survives its passage through the Earth's atmosphere and lands on the Earth's surface. Like meteors, meteorites are generally composed of rocks and metals and do not have an orbital period.

Given the composition of "mostly ice" and the wide range of orbital periods, the correct answer is:
B. a comet

Space Object B is a comet.

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