Which statement describes a comet's tail?

Which statement describes a comet's tail?

• A. It is composed of dust particles only
• B. It points toward the Sun
• C. It contains ionized gases and always points away from the Sun
• D. It disappears when far from the Sun

Answer: (C)

When a comet gets close to the Sun, ice and other materials sublimate and form a glowing coma and tails. Solar radiation and the solar wind push these materials away from the Sun, creating two tails: a dust tail and an ion tail. The ion tail is made of ionized gases, and because the solar wind pushes charged particles outward, this tail points directly away from the Sun. That is why the statement describing a comet’s tail as containing ionized gases and always pointing away from the Sun is the best description. The dust tail exists as well and is pushed by radiation pressure, but it does not define the ion tail’s behavior; the key idea is that ionized gas is carried away by the solar wind, always pointing away from the Sun.

When a comet gets close to the Sun, ice and other materials sublimate and form a glowing coma and tails. Solar radiation and the solar wind push these materials away from the Sun, creating two tails: a dust tail and an ion tail. The ion tail is made of ionized gases, and because the solar wind pushes charged particles outward, this tail points directly away from the Sun. That is why the statement describing a comet’s tail as containing ionized gases and always pointing away from the Sun is the best description. The dust tail exists as well and is pushed by radiation pressure, but it does not define the ion tail’s behavior; the key idea is that ionized gas is carried away by the solar wind, always pointing away from the Sun.