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Chapter 12: Problem 2

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
Option B: 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, and provides four options for the answer.
02

Analyze Each Option

Examine the given options one by one to determine their validity.
03

Evaluate Option A

Option A states that stony-iron meteorites are rare because they are hard to find. This is not a strong reasoning since rarity is more about their origin and composition rather than discoverability.
04

Evaluate Option B

Option B states that these meteorites are rare due to the small volume of differentiated bodies that have both stone and iron. This is a sound scientific reason as the differentiation process in parent bodies results in fewer regions where both stone and iron coexist.
05

Evaluate Option C

Option C states there is very little iron in the Solar System, which contradicts observational data since iron is relatively abundant in the Solar System.
06

Evaluate Option D

Option D suggests the Sun's magnetic field attracts iron, affecting their rarity. This option lacks scientific backing as the Sun's magnetic field does not cause significant movement of solid meteorites.
07

Select the Best Option

Based on the analysis, Option B provides the most scientifically supported explanation.

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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 classified into three main types based on their composition and origin: stony, iron, and stony-iron. Each type comes from different parts of their parent bodies.
  • Stony Meteorites: These are the most common and primarily composed of silicate minerals. They originate from the crust or mantle of asteroids.
  • Iron Meteorites: These consist mainly of iron-nickel alloy and come from the cores of differentiated parent bodies.
  • Stony-Iron Meteorites: These are a mix of silicate minerals and metallic iron-nickel, making them rare compared to the first two types.
Understanding the types of meteorites helps us learn about the formation and differentiation processes of celestial bodies in our Solar System.
meteorite composition
The composition of meteorites gives us valuable clues about their origins. Stony meteorites are rich in silicates, including minerals like olivine and pyroxene. Iron meteorites are mostly composed of a nickel-iron alloy. Stony-iron meteorites, which are rare, have both silicate minerals and metallic iron.
These compositional differences occur because of the processes that shaped their parent bodies:
  • Primitive Bodies: These are undifferentiated and mostly made of silicate minerals, accounting for the composition of stony meteorites.
  • Differentiated Bodies: These have a core, mantle, and crust. Iron meteorites come from the core, while stony-iron meteorites form at the boundary between the core and the mantle.
Studying meteorite composition helps scientists decipher the complex history of planetary formation and evolution.
differentiated parent bodies
Parent bodies of meteorites can be categorized as either differentiated or undifferentiated. Differentiated bodies underwent internal heating, leading to the formation of distinct layers:
  • Core: Typically composed of metallic iron-nickel.
  • Mantle: Made up of silicate minerals.
  • Crust: Also primarily silicate and less dense than the core and mantle.
Differentiation occurs when radioactive decay or other heat sources cause melting, allowing denser materials to sink and lighter materials to rise. Stony-iron meteorites are rare because they come from regions where these layers intersect, which is not a large volume. Exploring differentiated parent bodies aids our comprehension of planetary geology and the conditions that lead to the formation of different meteorite types.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Meteor showers occur because Earth passes through the path of a. another planet. b. a planetesimal. c. a comet. d. the Moon.

Most asteroids are located between the orbits of a. Earth and Mars. b. Mars and Jupiter. c. Jupiter and Saturn. d. the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.

How might comets and asteroids have contributed to the origin of life on Earth?

Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) are actually comet nuclei. Why do they not display comae and tails? a. Most of the material has already been stripped from the objects. b. They are too far from the Sun. c. They are too close to the Sun. d. The comae and tails are pointing away from Earth, behind the object.

Meteorites can provide information about all of these except a. the early composition of the Solar System. b. the composition of asteroids. c. the composition of comets. d. the Oort Cloud.
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