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Chapter 12: Problem 4

The three types of meteorites come from different parts of their parent bodies. Stony-iron meteorites are rare because a. they are hard to find. b. the volume of a differentiated body that has both stone and iron is small. c. there is very little iron in the Solar System. d. the magnetic field of the Sun attracts the iron.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The volume of a differentiated body that has both stone and iron is small.

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Question

The question asks why stony-iron meteorites are rare. Evaluate each given option to determine the correct reason.
02

Evaluate Option A

Option A suggests that stony-iron meteorites are hard to find. Consider if rarity is linked to difficulty in finding them.
03

Evaluate Option B

Option B states that the volume of a differentiated body that has both stone and iron is small. Investigate if this small volume contributes to their rarity.
04

Evaluate Option C

Option C claims there is very little iron in the Solar System. Examine if the amount of iron influences the rarity of stony-iron meteorites.
05

Evaluate Option D

Option D suggests the magnetic field of the Sun attracts the iron. Consider if this is a plausible explanation for the rarity of stony-iron meteorites.
06

Analyze

Compare all the options. The most logical answer involves the structure of differentiated bodies that contain both stone and iron.
07

Conclusion

Conclude that the volume of a differentiated body that has both stone and iron is small, making stony-iron meteorites rare.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

types of meteorites
Meteorites are fascinating space rocks that come in three main types: stony meteorites, iron meteorites, and stony-iron meteorites. Each type has unique characteristics.
  • Stony meteorites: These are the most common and are divided into chondrites and achondrites. They are primarily made of silicate minerals and are similar in composition to rocks on Earth.
  • Iron meteorites: Composed mostly of iron and nickel, these are believed to originate from the cores of ancient, differentiated asteroids.
  • Stony-iron meteorites: These are a rare combination of both stone and metal, representing a mix of silicate minerals and iron-nickel alloys. The rarity of stony-iron meteorites makes them particularly valuable to scientists.
Understanding the differences among these meteorite types helps us learn more about the history and composition of our Solar System.
solar system composition
The Solar System is a vast and diverse place, containing a wide variety of materials and objects. It consists of the Sun, eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
  • The Sun: Making up about 99.86% of the Solar System's mass, the Sun is composed mainly of hydrogen and helium.
  • Planets: The inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) are rocky and contain metals and silicate minerals. The outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) are gas giants with thick atmospheres primarily of hydrogen, helium, and other gases.
  • Asteroids: Mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, these rocky bodies vary in composition, with some containing metal cores.
  • Comets: Made of ice and dust, comets originate from the outer parts of the Solar System and develop tails when they approach the Sun.
The composition of these celestial bodies gives us insights into the process of planetary formation and the distribution of elements in our Solar System.
differentiated bodies in space
Differentiated bodies in space, such as planets and large asteroids, have undergone processes that separated them into distinct layers based on density. This differentiation results in a core, mantle, and crust.
  • Core: The densest materials, such as iron and nickel, sink to form the core. In some asteroids, a metallic core can give rise to iron meteorites.
  • Mantle: Lighter silicate minerals form the mantle, lying above the core. Mantle material becomes the source of stony meteorites.
  • Crust: The least dense materials form the outer crust. Crustal materials also contribute to stony meteorites.
Stony-iron meteorites are rare because they represent materials from the boundaries between the metal core and the silicate mantle. Since the volume of these boundary regions is small compared to the rest of the differentiated body, stony-iron meteorites are less common. Understanding these layers and their compositions helps us decode the internal structure and formation history of celestial bodies.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Meteorites can provide information about a. the early composition of the Solar System. b. the composition of asteroids. c. other planets. d. all of the above

One recent estimate concludes that nearly 800 meteorites with mass greater than 100 grams (massive enough to cause personal injury strike the surface of Earth each day. Assuming you present a target of 0.25 square meter \(\left(\mathrm{m}^{2}\right)\) to a falling meteorite, what is the probability that you will be struck by a meteorite during your 100 -year lifetime? (Note that the surface area of Earth is approximately \(5 \times 10^{14} \mathrm{m}^{2} .\) )

Describe differences between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud as sources of comets. What is the ultimate fate of a comet from each of these reservoirs?

As a comet leaves the inner Solar System, the ion tail points a. back along the orbit. b. forward along the orbit. c. toward the Sun. d. away from the Sun.

T/F: Asteroids are mostly rock and metal; comets are mostly ice.
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