What tests are done? How is a planet source known if we have no samples from them?
2006-09-11 16:00:26 · 9 answers · asked by Glenn F 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
1. Use radio-carbon dating and petrophysical analysis to confirm that the rock is a meteorite fragment.
2. Use spectral analysis to look for elements that are rare on earth, or conditions that are extra-terrestrial. For example, fragments of meteorites found in Antarctica were traced to Mars. They are too recent to have formed in the earth's oxygen rich atmosphere. But the chemical samples have trace gasses that are very close to atmosphere samples analyzed by the Viking landers in 1976.
3. we don't have samples direct from Mars yet, but the two rovers are getting excellent data from their instruments. That's why they both have a grinding wheel to get fresh, unweathered rock samples.
2006-09-11 17:04:34 · answer #1 · answered by rtmac0028 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
METEOR COMPOSITION: unlike earth rocks which in the course of time have been melted and recrystallized into different forms, meteors have remained largely unchanged from when the solar system began and even before. Diamonds found in some meteors may have been produced by chemical vapor deposition, a process (also used in making diamonds artificially) that might occur in the outer layers of stars and supernovas
So basically, the only way to tell if a rock is made up of "alien" counterparts, is to test for the compontents that meteors and spacerocks are made up of. (meteors, space rocks etc, dont have the same components as earthly rocks.)
2006-09-12 16:11:35 · answer #2 · answered by Mintjulip 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Composition- if it is made out of materials that are rare on Earth
Structure - the high pressure and temperatures that suddenly affect it when it flies through our atmosphere and impacts the Earth change the structure of the molecules that make the rock up in a recognizable way
If you think you found a meteor your first clue is usually that it is quite a bit heavier than it looks since most have a lot of iron which is quite heavy.
2006-09-11 16:59:34 · answer #3 · answered by iMi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two clues.
First, composition. Meteorites are often made of elements that Earth just doesn't have that much of. So check what your mystery rock is made of.
Second, entry ablation. When a meteorite enters the atmosphere, it starts to heat up and break apart due to friction with the air. All that heat is bound to leave its mark on whatever makes it to the ground.
2006-09-15 10:53:37 · answer #4 · answered by Joseph Q 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good way to check would be to look for things that are not known to occur naturally on the earth.
If you find such a chemical then you have a prime candidate for an extraterrestial rock.
2006-09-11 16:12:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask the rock itself. If it speaks, it is not of this planet.
Okay, seriously- I don't think we get a lot of rocks from other planets here. If it's a meteor, I think they check the composition of it, to see what it's made of.
2006-09-11 16:05:26 · answer #6 · answered by Professor Chaos386 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
any planets been destroyed recently? haven't heard of non-earthly planetary rocks found on earth.
meteoroids are high in iron and nickel and have characteristic crystalline structures.
2006-09-11 16:19:56 · answer #7 · answered by dave_co_78 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if u didnt got rock samples we must go there and experiment on that planet
2006-09-11 21:00:39 · answer #8 · answered by yunus a 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if there is anything on its composition that can not be identify as know mineral
2006-09-12 15:15:43 · answer #9 · answered by - 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋