Question

The solid core structure of a comet is known as the nucleus. The nucleus of a comet is composed of an amalgamation of rock, dust, water, ice and many frozen gases. Which of the following gases is the nucleus of a comet composed of?

• A. Carbon dioxide only
• B. Carbon monoxide and methane only
• C. Ammonia and methane only
• D. Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia

Answer 1

The correct option is D Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and ammonia

• A comet's nucleus is like a dirty snowball made of ice, gas and dust. As the comet gets closer to the Sun, some of the ice starts to melt and boil off, along with particles of dust. These particles and gases make a cloud around the nucleus, called a coma.
• The coma is lit by the Sun. The sunlight also pushes this material into the beautiful brightly lit tail of the comet.