What is a meteoroid?

• A. A large planet composed mainly of gas.
• B. Small pieces of rocks flying through space.
• C. A type of artificial satellite.
• D. A distant star cluster.

Answer: (B)

A meteoroid is a small rocky (or sometimes metallic) fragment traveling through space. These tiny pieces come from collisions in the solar system or from debris shed by comets. When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere, it burns up and streaks across the sky as a meteor; if any piece reaches the ground, that piece is a meteorite. This description fits best because it emphasizes the small size and space-faring nature of meteoroids, unlike large gas planets, human-made satellites, or clusters of stars.