What is a large chunk of irregularly shaped space debris commonly called?

What is a large chunk of irregularly shaped space debris commonly called?

• A. Comet
• B. Asteroid
• C. Meteorite
• D. Satellite

Answer: (B)

A large chunk of irregularly shaped space debris is commonly referred to as an asteroid. Asteroids are remnants from the early solar system, primarily made up of rock and metal, and can vary widely in size. They tend to have irregular shapes due to their lack of sufficient gravity to pull them into a spherical form, differentiating them from planets which are more rounded due to their gravitational forces.

Comets, which are mentioned in the choices, are icy bodies that release gas or dust as they come close to the sun, forming a characteristic tail. Meteorites refer to fragments of meteoroids that survive their passage through the Earth's atmosphere and land on the Earth’s surface. Satellites are man-made objects placed into orbit around Earth or other celestial bodies, serving various purposes from communication to scientific research. These distinctions clarify why the term for a large chunk of irregularly shaped space debris is best identified as an asteroid.