Final answer:
The comet with a speed of 24.3 km/s at a distance of 1.50 AU from the Sun is in a bound orbit, indicating that it is gravitationally tied to the Sun and follows an elliptical path governed by Kepler's laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine whether a comet is in a bound or unbound orbit, we can compare its speed to what is known as the escape velocity at its current distance from the sun. The escape velocity is the speed needed for an object to break free from the gravitational pull of a larger body, without further propulsion.
At a distance of 1.50 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, the escape velocity is significantly less than 24.3 km/s, which is the speed mentioned for the comet in the question. Hence, since the comet's speed is less than the escape velocity at that distance, it is in a bound orbit around the sun. When in a bound orbit, a comet has an elliptical trajectory and is gravitationally tied to the Sun, following Kepler's laws of planetary motion.