Question

Why is the tail of a comet formed, when it comes closer to the sun?
A. Ice present in the comets gets vaporised
B. When it comes closer to sun, vapour converts into ice
C. Dust particles in the comets get heated
D. Both option A and C

Answer 1

Hint: To answer this question, we must know the properties of comets and hence we can easily answer this question. A comet is a tiny, frozen entity in the Solar System that warms up and begins to leak gases as it approaches the Sun, a process known as outgassing.

Complete answer:
Our solar system's icy distant reaches hold the solution to this query. It's hidden in a little clump of dust and ice that's almost imperceptible until it gets closer to the sun. As the temperature rises, these little amounts of ice begin to sublimate, changing from solid to gas with no liquid stage.

When these masses accelerate their approach to the sun, they collide with an outward stream. The steady flow of particles (electrons and protons) that streams outward from the sun is referred to as this stream. The ball of masses forms a tail-like structure at its end as a result of this stream, and there are two types of tails: dust tails and plasma tails.

As these constructions come closer to the sun, they lose their materials at a faster rate, losing over 1% of their mass in the process. A comet is the name given to this mass ball. As a result we see the tail of a comet is formed and due to the ice, which gets vaporised and the particles of the dust get heated.

Hence the correct option is D.

Note: When the earth travels through the path of a comet like this, we see a meteor shower of dust from the comet's tail, which it left behind as it moved closer to the sun. When these particles enter the atmosphere, they begin to burn. The majority of bright comets seen to the human eye are brand-new discoveries that have never been reported previously. On average, we acquire one every five to 10 years.