The ion tail of a comet points:
A) in the direction of the solar wind.
B) in a trailing orbit near the comet.
C) in the direction of gas jets flowing out of the comet's nucleus.
D) directly behind the comet's position along its orbit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ion tail of a comet always points directly away from the Sun because it is shaped by the solar wind, which consists of charged particles emitted by the Sun. These particles push the ionized gases of the comet's tail directly away from the Sun, regardless of the comet's direction of travel.

The Ion Tail of a Comet Points