What is a significant characteristic of a meteoroid?

A meteoroid is typically defined as a small rocky or metallic body in outer space. One of its significant characteristics is indeed that it is generally smaller than one meter in size. In fact, meteoroids can range from tiny grains to objects a few meters in diameter, but most are significantly less than one meter.

This characteristic distinguishes meteoroids from larger celestial objects like asteroids, which are much larger and can be hundreds of kilometers across. Understanding this size distinction helps clarify why a meteoroid is defined within its specific range.

Other potential attributes, such as having an atmosphere or being primarily made of gas, do not apply to meteoroids. Meteoroids are solid objects that do not possess an atmosphere like planets, nor are they primarily composed of gas, which further highlights the correctness of identifying size as a key characteristic.