A comet, an icy body that orbits the sun, becomes visible with a distinctive glowing tail primarily due to what process?

Explanation

A comet is composed primarily of ice, dust, and rocky material, and as it travels closer to the sun along its orbit, solar heat causes some of its icy material to vaporize, releasing gas and dust that stream away from the comet’s core, or nucleus, forming the glowing coma and often a distinctive visible tail. This tail typically points generally away from the sun, shaped by the pressure of solar radiation and the solar wind, regardless of the comet’s direction of travel. Some comets follow predictable orbital paths that bring them relatively close to the sun, and therefore into view from Earth, at regular, sometimes very long, intervals. Explore more Everyday Science MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.