M 6 Science8 Module 6
M 6 Science8 Module 6
M 6 Science8 Module 6
Science
Quarter 2 – Module 6:
Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids
CO_Q2_Science8_Module6
Science – Grade 8
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 6: Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids
First Edition, 2020
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Science
Quarter 2 – Module 6:
Comets, Meteors, and Asteroids
Introductory Message
This Self-Learning Module (SLM) is prepared so that you, our dear
learners, can continue your studies and learn while at home.
Activities, questions, directions, exercises, and discussions are
carefully stated for you to understand each lesson.
Each SLM is composed of different parts. Each part shall guide you
step-by-step as you discover and understand the lesson prepared
for you.
Pre-tests are provided to measure your prior knowledge on lessons
in each SLM. This will tell you if you need to proceed on completing
this module or if you need to ask your facilitator or your teacher’s
assistance for better understanding of the lesson. At the end of
each module, you need to answer the post-test to self-check your
learning. Answer keys are provided for each activity and test. We
trust that you will be honest in using these.
In addition to the material in the main text, Notes to the Teacher
are also provided to our facilitators and parents for strategies and
reminders on how they can best help you on your home-based
learning.
Please use this module with care. Do not put unnecessary marks on
any part of this SLM. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the
exercises and tests. And read the instructions carefully before
performing each task.
If you have any questions in using this SLM or any difficulty in
answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to consult your
teacher or facilitator.
Thank you.
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What I Need to Know
This module was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you
master comets, meteors, and asteroids. The scope of this module permits
it to be used in many different learning situations. The language used
recognizes the diverse vocabulary level of students. The lessons are arranged
to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the order in which you read
them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now using.
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What I Know
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
3. Which Near-Earth Objects (NEO) are found on the Kuiper Belt and Oort
Cloud?
A. asteroids
B. comets
C. meteors
D. meteorites
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6. What do you call the depression caused by the objects that fell on a
planet or moon?
A. canyon
B. crater
C. plateau
D. pothole
9. What is the major difference among comet, meteor, and asteroid in terms
of structure?
A. Comet contains icy shell while asteroid and comet do not have.
B. Meteor contains icy shell while asteroid and comet do not have.
C. Asteroid and comet contain icy shell while meteor does not have.
D. Asteroid contains icy shell while asteroid and meteor do not have.
11. What do you call a celestial body that reaches the Earth’s crust?
A. comet
B. meteor
C. meteorite
D. meteoroid
12. What will happen if a comet gets closer to the sun? A comet will ______.
A. expire
B. explode
C. melt and disappear
D. form a long tail made of gas and dust
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13. Why do scientists study comets? It is because they _____________.
A. like studying it
B. need to survey the space
C. want to examine the mineral contents
D. want to study the origin of the Earth and other planets
(Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/construct-a-comet/)
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Lesson
Comets, Meteors, and
1 Asteroids
Have you already seen a movie showing rocks from outer space crashing violently on
Earth? Did you know that there are many rocks in outer space? Some of those space
rocks are what we call comets or asteroids. Are you aware that “falling stars” are not
stars but meteors? Read the module and answer the activities to find out.
What’s In
Activity 1. Match It
Directions: Match Column A with Column B. Write your answers on a separate sheet
of paper.
Column A Column B
(Source:https://pixabay.com/illustratio
ns/space-asteroids-planets-cosmos-
1422642/)
(Source:https://pixabay.com/illustrati
ons/space-stars-comet-astronomy- C. asteroids travelling close to the
1486556/) Earth
(Source:https://pixabay.com/photos/ast
eroid-comet-meteorite-3628185/)
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What’s New
The use of telescopes and space probes provided astronomers and scientists valuable
knowledge on the nature of the other members of the solar system solar system.
Recently, astronomers have discovered asteroid 2012 DA14 which came close to
Earth. The said asteroid is about 45 m in diameter.
The table below shows the comparison of characteristics of comets, meteors and
asteroids.
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What is It
Comet Halley is the most well-known short-period comet of the 20th century since it
takes 75 to 76 years for this comet to orbit the Sun. We can view it in the sky every
time it comes closer to the Sun. All other comets have been identified as long-period
comets since it takes 200 to several thousand years to complete their orbit around
the Sun. On the other hand, asteroids originate from the Asteroid Belt. These are
found between Mars and Jupiter.
The recent theory states that the Asteroid Belt was heavily populated with asteroids,
but the gravitational pull of Jupiter has made these asteroids thrown. It was also
theorized that Jupiter’s gravitational pull prevented these asteroids from forming into
a new planet. Another group of astronomical researchers theorized that the Asteroid
Belt was an empty space and the debris of other planets have filled this area with
the objects which are then called asteroids.
(Source: Ibid, 156)
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The orbit of an asteroid is more rounded and less elliptical than the orbit of a comet.
In February 2013, Asteroid 2012 DA14 made a closer approach to Earth as it orbited
around the Sun. The asteroid was just 27,700 km away from the Earth, the closest
that an asteroid has ever been in recent memory. In December 2012, during the
issue of the doomsday prophecies, Asteroid Toutatis has made a near approach to
Earth but not as close as Asteroid 2012 DA14.
Figure 1 shows the orbits of asteroid and comet. The orbit of an asteroid is more
circular compared to that of the comet. An asteroid’s orbit lies between Mars and
Jupiter. The region between these two planets is called Asteroid Belt. On the other
hand, the orbit of a comet is more elongated or elliptical in shape since it extends
from the far region of the solar system. Oort Cloud is found beyond the solar system
while Kuiper Belt is located beyond Neptune.
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The composition of an asteroid provides information to the chemical compositions of
planets in the solar system. Iron and Nickel are the asteroid's components which are
the same metals that make up the Earth’s core. An element called Iridium was
discovered on oceanic sedimentary layers of Denmark, Italy, and New Zealand, by
Alvarez Brothers namely Luis and Walter Alvarez. They have discovered the rocks
that contains higher level of iridium compared to the Earth’s crust which is with the
same level of iridium of the asteroid. Because of this, they have presumed that
asteroids landed on Earth that caused the death of the dinosaurs. They came up to
their hypothesis which was later called as Alvarez Hypothesis.
Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/asteroid-
meteorite-impact-meteor-179319/
Meteoroids are remnants or fragments of asteroids and comets located outside the
Earth's atmosphere. Meteoroids originated from the collision of asteroids. They were
also known to be the debris of comets that travel around the sun or debris from the
impact of collision of Mars or the moon with asteroids. When these meteoroids enter
the Earth’s atmosphere, it will then be called meteors as shown in Figure 2. When
these landed on the Earth’s ground, it is then called meteorites as shown in Figure
3.
An object that begins as a meteoroid skimming through space creates a streak of
light as a meteor (or commonly known as “shooting star”) as it enters Earth’s
atmosphere. If it was not vaporized completely by frictional heat and was able to land
on the Earth’s ground, it is called meteorite. There are times in the year where we
can observe meteor showers occurring when the Earth passes through debris left by
comets or asteroids.
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What’s More
Directions: Identify what Near-Earth Objects are seen in each item. Choose your
answer from the box. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
(Source: https://pixabay.com/illustrations/sky-stars-planets-space-moon-star-3880590/)
Activity 3. Identify It
Directions: Identify what is being referred to in each item. Choose your answers
from the box. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
_______1. It is the origin of the comets that is beyond the solar system.
_______3. It is the origin of the comets located within the orbit of Neptune.
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Activity 4. Take It from Mixing and Colliding
Directions: Determine the Near-Earth Objects after mixing or colliding the different
celestial components. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.
(Source:https://pixabay.com/photos/gr
(Source:https://pixabay.com/photos/s (Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/race-
id-wire-mesh-stainless-rods-826831//)
tone-glass-colorful-gem-color-6580/ car-race-track-dirt-road-car-1031767/)
dust metal
collision
(Source:https://pixabay.com/photos/ast (Source:https://pixabay.com/photos/ast
eroid-meteorite-comet-63125/) eroid-meteorite-comet-63125/)
asteroid asteroid
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Activity 5. Let Us Know Them More
Asteroids
Meteors Comets
Clues: At the intersection of the circles, write the components that are both present
in the two circles from the two Near-Earth Objects mentioned. At the center, write
the components that are common from comets, meteors, and asteroids.
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What I Have Learned
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct answer. Write your answers on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. ________ typically come from the Oort Cloud and some from the Kuiper Belt.
2. Asteroids originated from the ________ which is in between Mars and Jupiter.
3. ________ is a streak of light that happens when a meteoroid enters the Earth’s
atmosphere.
4. The ________, _________, and ________ differ in orbits, orbital periods, origins,
and chemical compositions.
5. The “dirty snowball” made of ice is the ________ of a comet.
6. The orbit of an asteroid is ________ while the orbit of a comet is elongated.
7. ________ are remnants or fragments of asteroids and comets located outside the
Earth's atmosphere.
8. ________ is the most well-known short-period comet of the 20th century since it
takes 75 to 76 years to orbit the Sun.
9. On February 2013, ________ made a closer approach to Earth as it orbited
around the Sun.
10. Kuiper Belt is located beyond ________.
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What I Can Do
Directions: Read the news article and answer the questions that follow. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.
Risks of Asteroid Strike to Earth from Elon Musk's Starlink Project Feared
By: Nirmal Narayanan
December 10, 2019- In an attempt to provide internet to all corners of the globe, Elon
Musk's Starlink project will gradually send tens of thousands of satellites into the
earth's orbit. But some astronomers believe the project could increase the chances of
asteroid hits to earth.
Space agencies like NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) and
astronomers make use of telescopes to track near-earth objects that could pose a threat
to earth in the future. However, the task will become extremely difficult when telescopes
have to filter out tens of thousands of Starlink satellites that are already in the earth's
orbit.
A few months back, while interacting with followers on Twitter, the Tesla founder
revealed that humans do not have a proper shield to protect the planet from doomsday
asteroids. He made the comments when one of his followers asked whether asteroid
Apophis will hit earth in 2029.
"Great name! Wouldn't worry about this particular one, but a big rock will hit Earth
eventually & we currently have no defense," wrote Musk on Twitter. However, later
Musk called NASA's planetary defense mission 'Armageddon', prompting fears that
something sinister from deep space was on its way to earth.
(Source: “Risks of Asteroid Strike to Earth from Elon Musk's Starlink Project Feared”, IB Times Corporation, last
modified December 10, 2019, https://www.ibtimes.sg/risks-asteroid-strike-earth-elon-musks-starlink-project-
feared-35714)
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Questions:
2. What could possibly happen if the asteroid would hit the Earth?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
3. What are the disadvantages of having too many satellites in the Earth’s orbit?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. Based on the news you have read, could the impact of the asteroid cause
extinction to some organisms including animals? Support your answer.
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. What could be the possible measures humans can do to avoid or block the
asteroid from hitting the Earth?
_______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Rubric
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
The answer is The answer is The answer is The answer to Question is not
complete. All missing 1 missing 2 the question is answered. A
information detail. All details. Almost lacking any small amount
provided is information all information detail. Some to none of the
accurate. provided is provided is information information
accurate. accurate. provided is provided is
accurate. accurate.
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Assessment
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on a separate
sheet of paper.
2. What do you call the fragments or debris that resulted from the collision of
asteroids or comets?
A. meteors
B. meteoroids
C. Oort Cloud
D. Kuiper Belt
4. What is the name of the famous comet that can be seen from Earth every 75 to
76 years?
A. Hale Boop
B. Comet Halley
C. Comet Tempel 1
D. Shoemaker Levy-9
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7. What is a meteorite? It is a __________.
A. dim meteor
B. bright meteor
C. meteoroid that lights up
D. remains of meteoroids that hit the Earth
11. Why would global temperature of the Earth drop when struck by a massive
asteroid?
A. The resulting cloud would block out sunlight.
B. The low temperature of asteroid would chill the oceans.
C. The impact would move the Earth farther from the Sun.
D. The ice in the asteroid would increase the Earth’s reflective power.
12. When objects strike a surface of a planet, they leave a deep impression on the
surface called ____________.
A. canyon
B. crater
C. plateau
D. pothole
13. Meteoroids are formed when asteroids collided and crushed into pieces. Based
on this statement, where did the meteoroids originate?
A. Asteroid Belt
B. Mars
C. Moon
D. Sun
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14. Which best describe what is the picture below?
(Source:https://pixabay.com/photos/meteorite-stone-hoba-namibia-700836/)
A. meteorite
B. meteoroid with dust
C. comet with coma and ion tail
D. asteroid that falls to the Earth
(Source: https://nineplanets.org/asteroid-belt/)
A. meteors
B. meteorites
C. asteroids
D. meteor shower
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Additional Activities
Directions: In a long bond paper, draw the solar system highlighting the location of
the comets, meteors, and asteroids.
Rubric
Criteria 4 3 2 1
Complete and all Most parts are Some parts are Incomplete and
Complete and in
are ordered present and are present and are ordered
correct order
correctly ordered correctly ordered correctly incorrectly
All are labeled Most are labeled Some are labeled All are labeled
Label
correctly correctly correctly incorrectly
The drawing is
The drawing is The drawing has The drawing
somewhat
Artistic quality highly colorful few artistic has no artistic
colorful and
and artistic. qualities. qualities.
artistic.
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What I have learned? (page What I Know?
Assessment 16) 1. C
1. Comets 2. A
1. B 2. Asteroid Belt 3. B
2. B 3. Meteors 4. D
3. A 4. Comets, Meteors, and 5. A
4. B Asteroids (can be interchanged) 6. B
5. D 5. nucleus 7. B
6. C 6. rounded 8. B
7. D 7. meteoroids 9. A
8. C 8. comet Halley 10. A
9. A 9. Asteroid 2012 DA14 11. C
10. D 10. Neptune 12. D
11. A 13. D
12. B What I can do? (page 17-18) 14. B
13. A Answers may vary 15. C
14. A
15.C Suggested Answers: What’s In? Activity 1
1. It is all about the thousands 1. C 2. B 3.A
Additional Activities of satellites sent in Earth’s orbit
increasing chances of asteroids What’s More?
to hit the Earth. Activity 2
2. It will leave destruction to 1. Meteor
the part of the Earth that will 2. Asteroid
be hit by the asteroid. Worst, if 3. Comet
the asteroid is massive or big Activity 3
enough then it might be the 1. Oort Cloud
end of Earth. If it happened 2. Asteroid Belt
years ago, then many animals 3. Kuiper Belt
or other organisms might not 4. Earth’s Atmosphere
be seen today because it might 5. Mars and Jupiter
have been extinct Activity 4
3. The task of tracking the 1. Comet
NEOs that could pose a threat 2. Asteroid
to Earth in the future will 3. Meteoroid
become extra difficult because
they have to filter out Activity 5
thousands of satellites that are Asteroids- metals, iron,
already in Earth’s orbit. dusts, nickel, rock, silicate,
4. Yes, if the asteroid is much argon
bigger than the earth, the Comets- metals, ice, dusts,
extinction could be possible. rocks, carbon dioxide,
5. Reduce satellite launch to ammonia, argon, sodium
the space. Also, we can create Meteors- rock, dust, flame
satellites or machines that can
break down big asteroids to
smaller chunks before it can
enter Earth’s atmosphere.
Answer Key
References
A. Book
Campo, Pia C., et.al, Science 8 Learner’s Module. Pasig City: Department of Education, 2014, 153-168
B. Website
IB Times Corporation, “Risks of Asteroid Strike to Earth from Elon Musk's Starlink Project Feared” Last
modified December 10, 2019, https://www.ibtimes.sg/risks-asteroid-strike-earth-elon-musks-
starlink-project-feared-35714
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