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Large dirty snowball that orbit the sun?

Comets are large dirty snowballs that orbit the sun. Made up of ice, rock, and dust, comets develop a glowing coma and a tail when they get closer to the sun due to the heat causing the ice to vaporize. They follow elongated orbits that can take them close to the sun and then far out into the solar system.


What idea is it that a comet is like a dirty snowball in science?

The idea that a comet is like a "dirty snowball" refers to its composition, which is primarily made up of ice, dust, and rocky material. This analogy highlights how comets contain frozen gases and water, similar to a snowball, along with various organic compounds and dust particles, hence the "dirty" aspect. When comets approach the Sun, the heat causes the ice to vaporize, creating a glowing coma and sometimes a tail, which further illustrates their dynamic nature as they travel through the solar system.


Why is a comet called a dirty snowball?

Comets are often referred to as "dirty snowballs" because they are a mixture of ice, dust, and rocky particles. As a comet travels closer to the sun, the ice sublimates, releasing gas and creating a glowing coma (atmosphere) and tail. The appearance of a comet can resemble a snowball covered in dirt due to this process.


What is the dirty snowball theory?

What are comets made of? Gravity holds stars and planets together, but what holds the other (little stuff) together. Ionic bonds. And it turns out that are only 3 that seem to work: Water (ice), Silicon oxide rock, and ferromagnetic metals (iron, nickel, cobalt). Comets don't seem to have much metal, so "dirty snow-ball". In 1949, Fred Lawrence Whipple theorized that the nucleus of a comet is made of frozen water, rocky debris, and frozen gases. This was called the "icy comglomerate" theory and is now known as the "dirty snowball" theory. However, in 1999, the Stardust spacecraft was launched and in 2004 it retrieved tiny particles from the comet Wild-2's surface and came back two years later in a capsule, landing in Utah. Minerals that formed in the presence of liquid water were discovered, proving that, at some point, pockets of water had existed on the comet. This disproved the "dirty snowball" theory.


What is the relationship between the Earth Sun and Moon in space?

The sun is in the center of the solar system. The Earth orbits the sun, and the moon orbits the Earth.

Related Questions

In outer space what is a bunch of dirty ice called?

"DIRTY SNOWBALL" : a description of a "comet", which ordinarily orbits the Sun and partially disintegrates (from heating) to form its "tail" as it gets closer to the Sun.


What object is also known as a dirty snowball in science?

A comet is often referred to as a "dirty snowball" in science. Comets are made up of ice, dust, and rocky materials, giving them a reflective icy appearance when they are closer to the Sun.


What is a dirty?

A dirty snowball is a snowball that is covered in some type of filth. It is also what many people refer to a comet as.


Is a comet a dirty snowball?

Yes.


What is the object in the solar system that is made mostly of ice and dirt that follows a long narrow orbit around the sun?

The object you are referring to is a comet. Comets are composed of ice, dust, and rock, and they have long, elliptical orbits that bring them close to the sun at one end and far away at the other. When a comet approaches the sun, the heat causes its ice to vaporize, creating a glowing coma and often a tail of dust and gas pointing away from the sun.


A comet's tail grows larger as it?

A comet (a dirty snowball) is a mix of ice, dirt and rock. It orbits is a wide oval coming closest to the sun at it's perigee It's apogee is it's farthest point. As a comet comes close to the sun, the ice sublimates (turns directly from ice into steam). When a comet comes closest to the sun the tail is largest.


What is the sexual meaning of a snowball?

A dirty snowball is a snowball that is covered in some type of filth. It is also what many people refer to a comet as.


Described as a dirty snowball what is composed of ice frozen gases and rock?

A dirty snowball is a comet, which is composed of ice, frozen gases (such as carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia), and rock. When a comet travels close to the Sun, the heat causes the ices to vaporize, creating the tail that we see from Earth.


Is a comet referred to a dirty snowball considered to be a theory?

Yes, the term "dirty snowball" is a popular theory used to describe comets. It suggests that comets are made up of a mixture of ice, rock, and dust, giving them a snowy appearance when they approach the sun and heat causes the ice to vaporize. However, recent studies have shown that comets may be more complex than just dirty snowballs.


Large dirty snowball that orbit the sun?

Comets are large dirty snowballs that orbit the sun. Made up of ice, rock, and dust, comets develop a glowing coma and a tail when they get closer to the sun due to the heat causing the ice to vaporize. They follow elongated orbits that can take them close to the sun and then far out into the solar system.


What do the call a dirty snowball In our solar system?

A comet has this nickname.


What type of celestial body is called a dirty snowball?

Comets.