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In which direction are the two types of comet tails pointing and what is pushing them in that direction?
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
From: http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/comets/tail.html&edu=high :
One tail is due to the comet's dust particles, the other is due to ionized gas from the comet coma.
Dust particles form the first tail. The only force which affects these small particles in space is corpuscular radiation from the Sun itself. This radiation pushes the tiny dust particles in the direction from which they came, the way wind can blow rain droplets at an angle. Cometary dust particles can be thought of as billowing up from the comet's surface. Thus, this comet tail generally points back along the comet trajectory.
Ions (electrically charged particles), which first come from the nucleus as (neutral) gaseous particles, are swept into the second comet tail by interaction with the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). The IMF, or magnetic field of the sun, which is present everywhere in interplanetary space, sweeps past the comet nucleus and carries the ions with it to form the tail. Because of this special interaction with the IMF, this tail always points directly away from the Sun"
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoAway from the sun.
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What two comet tails originate from?
What DO comet tails originate from? They are formed when the sun causes gas and dust to leave the comet, and are then swept away by solar winds. This is why that no matter which direction a comet is traveling, it's tail is always pointed awY from the sun.
Why do comet tails point in different directions?
A comet is comprised mostly of ice. The tail of the comet is caused by cosmic winds, from our sun, blasting particles off the comet's surface, the tail does NOT point in the opposite direction of travel, as one might expect, but points directly away from the source of the solar winds. That's why a comets tail, (from our perspective) may be traveling in a certain direction but have it's tail pointing in the SAME direction.
What part or parts of a comet come and go during a comet's orbit?
During a comet's orbit, the coma and tails are the parts that come and go. The coma is the glowing, fuzzy cloud around the nucleus that develops as the comet gets closer to the Sun. The tails, consisting of ion and dust tails, form as a result of solar radiation and solar wind pushing the coma's particles away from the nucleus. Both the coma and tails diminish as the comet moves away from the Sun during its orbit.
Why does the comet tail point away from the sun?
The sun ejects solar winds which move much faster than any comet. This causes a stream of material (the tail) to point away from the Sun, irrespective of the direction the comet is travelling. The Sun's radiation may also have an effect. (Source: Wikipedia)Bad definition!
Can plasma be found in comet tails?
no
In what direction does comet tails always point?
Away from the Sun.
What two comet tails originate from?
What DO comet tails originate from? They are formed when the sun causes gas and dust to leave the comet, and are then swept away by solar winds. This is why that no matter which direction a comet is traveling, it's tail is always pointed awY from the sun.
Why do comet tails point in different directions?
A comet is comprised mostly of ice. The tail of the comet is caused by cosmic winds, from our sun, blasting particles off the comet's surface, the tail does NOT point in the opposite direction of travel, as one might expect, but points directly away from the source of the solar winds. That's why a comets tail, (from our perspective) may be traveling in a certain direction but have it's tail pointing in the SAME direction.
What part or parts of a comet come and go during a comet's orbit?
During a comet's orbit, the coma and tails are the parts that come and go. The coma is the glowing, fuzzy cloud around the nucleus that develops as the comet gets closer to the Sun. The tails, consisting of ion and dust tails, form as a result of solar radiation and solar wind pushing the coma's particles away from the nucleus. Both the coma and tails diminish as the comet moves away from the Sun during its orbit.
Are comet tails mostly made up of sunlight?
Comet tails are made of ice and dust.
Why does the comet tail point away from the sun?
The sun ejects solar winds which move much faster than any comet. This causes a stream of material (the tail) to point away from the Sun, irrespective of the direction the comet is travelling. The Sun's radiation may also have an effect. (Source: Wikipedia)Bad definition!
Can plasma be found in comet tails?
no
Comet tails are mostly made of?
Comet tails are made mostly of _____.gas , i think?i got it from someone on wikianswers
What is small rocks in space left behind from comet tail?
Two things: 1. Comet tails do not follow along behind the comet. Comet tails always point away from the Sun. 2. Comets are not rocky, they are icy.
What is comet tails mostly made of?
dinosaurs
How do a comet's tails forme?
by ice chunks
Do comet tails face the sun?
No, a comet's tail always faces away from the sun/
