Why do comets have a tail?
A) they are balls of fire and the tail are flames that trail behind the comet
B) they are balls of fire and the tail is smoke trailing from the burning comet
C) solar wind strips off gas and dust, forming a tail pointing away from the Sun
D) comets do not have a tail, but most dogs do

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Comets have tails because the solar wind strips off gas and dust from their nucleus, forming a tail that always points away from the Sun, regardless of the comet's direction of travel. This process occurs as the comet gets closer to the Sun and its ice starts to vaporize, releasing gas and dust.

Why Do Comets Have a Tail