Question

question 9 of 20 : select the best answer for the question. 9. which of the following statements about the tail of a comet is correct? a. the suns corona creates the tail of a comet. b. the tail always points toward the sun. c. the tail always points away from the sun. d. the tail always points behind the comet. mark for review (will be highlighted on the review page) << previous question next question >>

Explanation:

To determine the correct statement about a comet's tail, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The sun’s corona (outer atmosphere) doesn’t create the comet’s tail. Comet tails form due to solar radiation pressure and solar wind acting on the comet’s material, so A is incorrect.
• Option B: The tail does not point toward the sun. Solar radiation pressure and solar wind push the ionized gas and dust in the comet away from the sun, so B is incorrect.
• Option C: The tail (both ion tail and dust tail) is pushed by solar radiation pressure and solar wind, so it always points away from the sun. This is correct.
• Option D: The tail doesn’t always point behind the comet. As the comet moves, the tail is directed away from the sun, which may not be "behind" the comet’s direction of motion (e.g., when the comet is moving toward the sun, the tail is still away from the sun, in front of the comet’s motion relative to the sun). So D is incorrect.

Answer:

C. The tail always points away from the sun.