Threats to Earth

P2g part 1 & 2

Objectives
In this lesson we should learn: about the properties of asteroids how asteroids have affected Earth in the past

Outcomes
Foundation Paper You should now be able to.. State that large asteroids have collided with the Earth in the past and describe some of the consequences and evidence of such collisions State that asteroids are rocks and describe that asteroids are left over from the formation of the Solar System and where they can be found.

Higher paper Explain why the asteroid belt is between Mars and Jupiter: the large gravity of Jupiter disrupts the formation of a planet

The asteroid Gaspra, found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars & Jupiter

Asteroid Ida with its moon Dactyl

Asteroids
Asteroids are large rocks left over from the formation of the Solar System They are mostly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter Asteroids (large rocks) have collided with the Earth in the past causing: - craters, - ejection of hot rocks, - widespread fires, - sunlight blocked by dust, - climate change, - species extinction

Collisions?
The evidence for past collision on Earth includes: - craters - layers of unusual elements in rocks - sudden changes of fossil numbers between adjacent layers of rock.

Rocks Asteroids are small ______________ which orbit the Sun Mars ______________, mainly between ______________ and Jupiter ______________. Occasionally, a long time ago, ______________ are thought to have struck Asteroids craters ______________, forming large ______________ and huge Earth water amounts of ______________ and ______________ vapour. dust An enormous asteroid is believed to have hit Earth ______________ 65 ______________ years ago, leading to million the ______________ of the ______________. extinction dinosaurs ______________ could not penetrate the ______________ sunlight atmosphere temperatures climate so ______________ fell, causing ______________ change.
Asteroids craters extinction million snowballs water atmosphere dinosaurs Jupiter Neptune Sun climate dust Mars rocks sunlight comets Earth meteors Saturn temperatures

Outcomes
Foundation Paper You should now be able to.. State that large asteroids have collided with the Earth in the past and describe some of the consequences and evidence of such collisions State that asteroids are rocks and describe that asteroids are left over from the formation of the Solar System and where they can be found.

Higher paper Explain why the asteroid belt is between Mars and Jupiter: the large gravity of Jupiter disrupts the formation of a planet

Objectives
In this lesson we should learn: about the properties of comets how astronomers are monitoring the danger from near-Earth asteroids and comets

Outcomes
Foundation Paper You should now be able to.. Describe that a comet is made from ice and dust, the tail of a is a trail of debris and that comets have highly elliptical orbits Describe that the speed of a comet increases as it approaches a star Describe a near-Earth object (NEO) as an asteroid or comet on a possible collision course with Earth and how NEO may be seen with telescopes and that observations can be used to determine their trajectories Higher paper Explain why the speed of a comet increases as it approaches a star: the strength of gravity increases Suggest and discuss possible actions which could be taken to reduce the threat of NEOs

Halleys Comet
Reappears every 76 years Image from 1986

Hale-Bopp as seen from Craig County, VA in 1997

Hale-Bopp as seen from Alexandria, VA in 1997

Hale-Bopp as seen from Wyoming in 1997

Yerkes Observatory

Comets
Comets are balls of rock and ice, with trails of debris blown outward by the Sun They have highly elliptical orbits and speed up as they approach the sun The trajectories of observed objects can be predicted accurately If an asteroid (or comet) on a collision course with Earth is spotted early enough, it may be possible to alter the trajectory of the asteroid

Threats to Earth
1. How can asteroids and comets be seen?

2. What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid?

3. What can be done to protect us from asteroid impacts?

Threats to Earth
Answers 1. How can asteroids and comets be seen? With telescopes, because they reflect light from the Sun. 2. What is the difference between a comet and an asteroid? Asteroids are large rocks usually in orbit between Mars and Jupiter. Comets are ice and rock found in very elliptical orbits. 3. What can be done to protect us from asteroid impacts? Detect them early and then alter their course.

Outcomes
Foundation Paper You should now be able to.. Describe that a comet is made from ice and dust, the tail of a is a trail of debris and that comets have highly elliptical orbits Describe that the speed of a comet increases as it approaches a star Describe a near-Earth object (NEO) as an asteroid or comet on a possible collision course with Earth and how NEO may be seen with telescopes and that observations can be used to determine their trajectories Higher paper Explain why the speed of a comet increases as it approaches a star: the strength of gravity increases Suggest and discuss possible actions which could be taken to reduce the threat of NEOs

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