Purpose To observe and describe physical characteristics of edible samples chosen as models of real rocks or meteorites. Background Meteorites are mostly pieces of rock, though a few are metal, that fall to Earth from space.
Most meteorites come from the break-up of small asteroids that never accreted to form a planet.
Meteorites give us clues to the origin and history of the solar system. The outside crust of the meteorite is produced as the rock is heated by friction when it comes through the atmosphere. The outer part melts and forms dark fusion crust that often has flow marks or indentations like thumbprints. The inside stays cool and is usually light gray to black in color, but some may be tan or, if weathered and rusted, brown. This activity has been designed as a comfortable introduction to describing meteorites.