219k views
2 votes
How do asteroids differ from comets? Select one: a. Asteroids and comets are both made of rocky and icy material, but asteroids are larger in size than comets. b. Asteroids and comets are both made of rocky and icy material, but asteroids are smaller in size than comets. c. Asteroids are made of icy material. Comets are made of rocky material. d. Asteroids are made of rocky material. Comets are made of icy material.

2 Answers

3 votes

Final answer:

Asteroids differ from comets in composition; asteroids are rocky, while comets are predominantly icy. As they approach the Sun, the ices in comets vaporize, creating a visible atmosphere and tail, which asteroids lack.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to how asteroids differ from comets is: Asteroids are made of rocky material. Comets are made of icy material. This distinction is important as it leads to different behaviors when these celestial bodies approach the Sun. Comets, which are primarily composed of frozen water and other volatiles with some solid grains, develop a bright atmosphere or coma and often a tail because of the sublimation of their icy parts. In contrast, asteroids, being rocky or metallic and containing less volatile material, do not exhibit these spectacular features.

Asteroids often remain in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, while comets come from regions such as the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, well beyond Neptune. It's interesting to note that the composition of these bodies helps us understand the conditions of the early solar system, as many asteroids and comets are considered relatively unchanged since that time, acting like cosmic fossils.

User Jon Taylor
by
8.7k points
4 votes

Final answer:

Asteroids are primarily rocky or metallic and contain minimal volatile material, whereas comets are icy and become visible due to sublimation when near the Sun.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary difference between asteroids and comets lies in their composition. Asteroids are generally rocky or metallic bodies that contain little volatile material, while comets consist of icy compounds and dust, which contain frozen water and other volatile substances. Comets develop a visible atmosphere or coma and often a tail when they come close to the Sun due to the sublimation of their icy components, giving them a dramatic and bright appearance in the sky. In contrast, asteroids do not show such activity because of their solid, non-volatile make-up.

The correct answer to the question regarding how asteroids differ from comets is: d. Asteroids are made of rocky material. Comets are made of icy material.

User Pushpalanka
by
8.6k points