Meteor shower debris is believed to come from:
A)the asteroid belt when Mars deflects it toward us annually.
B)the core of a differentiated type M asteroid, now broken up.
C)the crust of a differentiated type C asteroid, now broken up.
D)the disintegration of a short period comet over many returns to the Sun.
E)deep space, far beyond the solar system, deflected by the gravity of another star.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Meteor showers are typically caused by the disintegration of a comet as it orbits the Sun. As the comet gets closer to the Sun, its ice and dust vaporize, leaving a trail of debris. When the Earth passes through this trail, the debris enters our atmosphere and burns up, creating a meteor shower. Meteor shower debris is typically associated with comets, which leave behind a trail of debris as they orbit the Sun. Short period comets, in particular, are known to produce predictable meteor showers when Earth passes through their debris streams. Thus, the disintegration of a short period comet over many returns to the Sun is the most likely source of meteor shower debris.

Meteor Shower Debris Is Believed to Come From