Howardites

The answer sheet for the worksheet Fireballs, camera networks and recovery. Each answer comes with the reason, so it can be used to mark or to go over the questions with the class.

Back to the worksheet

Adult · Adults; no background neededAnswer sheet for teachers

Answers: Fireballs, camera networks and recovery

  1. C: SeveralNetworks in Europe, North America and Australia now recover several falls a year.
  2. C: Air squeezed and heated in front of itThe air ahead of the meteoroid is compressed so violently that it becomes intensely hot, which heats the surface.
  3. B: The air has slowed them to a steady fallAir resistance removes almost all of the entry speed, leaving the pieces falling at a steady terminal velocity.
  4. D: A museum or universityA museum or university can confirm and study the find while it is still fresh.
  5. A: Most of its mass melted and was swept awayDuring entry the surface melts and is carried off, so most of the original mass never reaches the ground.
  6. True (They gave views from many places to fix its path)Recordings from different places let the path be triangulated, which led to the predicted strewn field.
  7. True (The air pressure on its front grows too great)As it ploughs into thicker air, the pressure on the meteoroid often exceeds its strength and it fragments.
  8. The time, place, direction faced and duration (accept any answer with the same meaning)Scientists need when and where it was seen, which way the observer faced and how long it lasted, as well as colour.
  9. Modelling dark flight with wind data (accept any answer with the same meaning)Following the fragments forward through dark flight, with the winds, predicts the strewn field; projecting backwards gives the orbit.
  10. The landowner's permission (accept any answer with the same meaning)Searching always needs the permission of the person who owns the land.

Task

Answers will vary. The task comes from the lesson: Imagine you have just seen a fireball. Write a model report with every detail scientists ask for: time, place, direction, start and end points (as compass bearing and height above the horizon), duration, colour, fragmentation and sound. Then find the fireball reporting guide in this site's glossary and check what you missed.

Look for work that uses the key words correctly and gives a reason for each point.

Howardites · teacher copy: keep it separate from the pupil worksheets