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Lesson 34: Rocks and Minerals and Outer Space


You may have heard the terms "planet," "asteroid," "comet," "meteoroid," "meteor," and "meteorite." All are related to rocks and minerals in outer space. But what is the difference between them?

Planets

  • Planets are massive bodies which orbit a star directly.
  • In our Solar System, the planets are the eight major bodies of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
  • The rocky planets, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, contain a variety of rocks and minerals.
    • Planets in the Solar System

Asteroids

  • Smaller than planets, asteroids are minor planets that orbit a star.
  • The larger asteroids, such as Pluto, are called planetoids.
    • The Planetoid Pluto

Comets

  • Comets are celestial bodies consisting mainly of ice, dust, and gas in orbit around the Sun.
  • Comets have a "tail" of matter blown back from it by the solar wind as it approaches the Sun.
  • Comets in our Solar System typically continuously orbit the sun, coming close to the Earth from time to time.
  • The Hale-Bopp comet was last seen from Earth in 1997, and will not be seen again from Earth for thousands of years.
    • Comet Hale-Bopp from Space Shuttle Columbia

Meteorids

  • A meteoroid is a small body of matter that orbits the sun.
  • If a meteoroid enters the Earth's atmosphere, it becomes a meteor.
    • Meteoroid

Meteors

  • A meteor is a body of matter that enters the Earth's atmosphere and becomes a streak of light.
  • Meteors are also called falling stars and shooting stars.
    • Meteor

Meteorites

  • Meteorites are the remains of meteoroids/meteors that make it through the atmosphere to strike the Earth's surface.
  • The meteorite rocks we find on Earth often contain elemental metals such as iron and nickel.
    • Nickel-Iron Meteorite

    Rocks and Minerals by UTH Rocks and Minerals by UTH    

Lesson 34: Rocks and Minerals and Outer Space

Directions

Study the lesson for one week.

Over the week:

  • Read the lesson.
  • Review the synopsis.
  • Recite aloud the vocabulary words and their definitions.
  • Study the rock and mineral of the week.
  • Complete the enrichment activities.
  • Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Planets, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, meteors, and meteorites involve rocks and minerals in outer space. In this lesson, students learn the difference between them.

Vocabulary

Planet: A large body which directly orbits any star (or star cluster).
Asteroid: A naturally occurring solid object, which is smaller than a planet and is not a comet, that orbits a star.
Comet: A celestial body consisting mainly of ice, dust and gas in a (usually very eccentric) orbit around the Sun and having a tail of matter blown back from it by the solar wind as it approaches the Sun.
Meteoroid: A relatively small (sand- to boulder-sized) fragment of debris in a star system that produces a meteor when it hits the atmosphere.
Meteor: A fast-moving streak of light in the night sky caused by the entry of extraterrestrial matter into the Earth's atmosphere: A shooting star or falling star.
Meteorite: A metallic or stony object or body that is the remains of a meteoroid on Earth.

Rock or Mineral of the Week

Overview
  • Native nickel (Ni) is both a mineral and an silvery elemental metal found on the periodic table.
  • Nickel can be found by itself and also combined with other rocks and minerals in a type of rock called an ore.
  • Nickel, along with iron (Fe) is found in meteorites and in the Earth's inner and outer cores.
  • Nickel is used to plate other minerals since it is corrosion resistant.
  • The United States five-cent coin named nickel is made of 75% copper and 25% nickel.

Physical Characteristics of Uraninite
  • Color: Silver
  • Hardness: 4-5
  • Luster: Metallic
  • Cleavage: None
  • Streak: Gray to white
  • Tenacity: Ductile and malleable

Locations
  • Typically found in ore form - major producers include Australia, Russia, and Canada

Enrichment

Activity 1: Narrate the Lesson

  • After reading or listening to the lesson, narrate the lesson aloud using your own words.

Activity 2: Can You Find It?

Find the following elements on the periodic table:

  • Nickel (Ni)
  • In which group and period is nickel (Ni)?

Activity 3: Map the Lesson

  • Major nickel producers include Australia, Russia, and Canada.
  • Zoom in to find these countries on the map of the world.

Activity 4: Take a Nature Walk

  • Embark on a nature walk.
  • Collect one rock or mineral specimen.
  • Use the gathered specimen to create the field book entry.

Activity 5: Complete a Field Book Entry   

After your nature walk, complete page 6 in 'Fifth Grade Science Rocks and Minerals Notebook Pages.'

Review

Question 1

How many different elements does native nickel (Ni) contain?
1 / 6

Answer 1

Nickel consists only of a single element.
1 / 6

Question 2

Is native nickel (Ni) a compound?
2 / 6

Answer 2

No, nickel (Ni) is not made of two or more elements.
2 / 6

Question 3

Describe something about nickel (Ni).
3 / 6

Answer 3

Nickel is a silvery metal and element used to make the US five-cent coin of the same name.
3 / 6

Question 4

What is the difference between meteors and meteorites?
4 / 6

Answer 4

A meteorite is a meteor that has landed on the Earth's surface.
4 / 6

Question 5

Which celestial body has a tail - a planetoid or a comet?
5 / 6

Answer 5

A comet has a tail.
5 / 6

Question 6

Which is considered a planetoid - Mercury or Pluto?
6 / 6

Answer 6

Pluto is considered a planetoid.
6 / 6

  1. How many different elements does native nickel (Ni) contain? Nickel consists only of a single element.
  2. Is native nickel (Ni) a compound? No, nickel (Ni) is not made of two or more elements.
  3. Describe something about nickel (Ni). Nickel is a silvery metal and element used to make the US five-cent coin of the same name.
  4. What is the difference between meteors and meteorites? A meteorite is a meteor that has landed on the Earth's surface.
  5. Which celestial body has a tail - a planetoid or a comet? A comet has a tail.
  6. Which is considered a planetoid - Mercury or Pluto? Pluto is considered a planetoid.

References

  1. 'Comet Hale–Bopp.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_Hale–Bopp. n.p.
  2. 'Meteorite.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorite. n.p.
  3. 'Meteor.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteor. n.p.
  4. 'Comet.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet. n.p.
  5. 'Asteroid.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid. n.p.
  6. 'Nickel.' Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel. n.p.
  7. 'Nickel chunk' by Materialscientist (CC BY-SA 3.0). Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nickel_chunk.jpg. n.p.
  8. Cited Physical Properties. Geology.com. geology.com/rocks. n.p.

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