What characteristic of long-period comets suggest they come directly from the Oort cloud?
A) They have longer dust tails than short-period comets.
B) Their orbits have random inclinations with respect to the ecliptic plane.
C) Their orbits are nearly circular.
D) They tend to appear larger in diameter than short-period comets.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Long-period comets have orbits with random inclinations with respect to the ecliptic plane, which is consistent with their origin from the Oort cloud. Short-period comets, on the other hand, have orbits that are more confined to the plane of the solar system, suggesting they have a different origin. The other characteristics listed do not necessarily point to their origin in the Oort cloud.

What Characteristic of Long-Period Comets Suggest They Come Directly from the Oort