Question
Apply the Essential Questions
1. Explain the locations of asteroids and
comets relative to the Sun. Then
differentiate between the composition and
orbit of an asteroid and a comet. Sc.8.E.5.1,
SC.8.E.5.3
Answer
Asteroids are located mainly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, while comets are located in the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud beyond the orbit of Neptune. Asteroids are composed of rock and metal, and have orbits that are mostly circular and lie close to the plane of the Solar System. Comets are composed of ice, dust, and rocky material, and have orbits that are usually highly elliptical and inclined to the plane of the Solar System.