Question

Which of the following statements about comets best describes the light we can observe?

1) Comets emit their own light.
2) Comets reflect light from the Sun.
3) Comets absorb light from the surrounding space.
4) Comets do not emit or reflect any light.

Answer 1

Comets reflect sunlight, which allows us to see them when they are near the Sun. They do not emit their own light; instead, their icy composition changes when heated, contributing to their visibility due to reflected light.

Step-by-step explanation:

The light we observe from comets is primarily due to the fact that comets reflect light from the Sun. Comets are composed of icy material and when they approach the Sun, the increase in temperature causes their ices to evaporate, releasing gas and dust into space. This activity forms a visible atmosphere and sometimes a tail that reflects the sunlight, making comets visible from Earth. Unlike objects that emit their own light, like stars, comets shine because they reflect the Sun's light, similar to how the Moon illuminates our night sky.