Chapter 12: Problem 30

What are the differences between a comet and a meteor in terms of their size, distance, and how long they remain visible?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Comets are large icy bodies visible for weeks or months and come from the outer solar system. Meteors are small particles visible for seconds as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

Step by step solution

Define Comets

Comets are icy bodies originating from the outer parts of the solar system. They are often a few kilometers in diameter and can form spectacular tails when they approach the Sun due to solar radiation and the solar wind causing sublimation of their ices.

Define Meteors

Meteors are the streaks of light we see in the sky when small particles from space burn up upon entering Earth's atmosphere. These particles are usually fragments of comets or asteroids and are typically very small, ranging from a grain of sand to a few meters in size.

Compare Sizes

Comets are generally much larger, ranging from a few kilometers to tens of kilometers in diameter. Meteors, on the other hand, are much smaller, usually less than a meter in size before they enter the atmosphere.

Compare Distances

Comets originate from the outer reaches of the solar system, specifically from regions like the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud. Meteors are much closer, as they are typically fragments breaking off from comets or asteroids and entering Earth’s atmosphere.

Compare Visibility Duration

Comets can remain visible for weeks or even months as they travel along their orbits, especially when their tails become prominent. Meteors are visible only for a few seconds or minutes as they burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Comet characteristics

Comets are fascinating celestial objects that originate from the outer parts of our solar system. They are composed mainly of ice, dust, and rocky materials. These icy bodies, often referred to as 'dirty snowballs,' can be a few kilometers to tens of kilometers in diameter. When comets approach the Sun, the solar radiation and solar wind cause the ices within them to sublimate, a process that transforms the ice directly into gas. This action results in the formation of a spectacular glowing coma and often a tail that can stretch for millions of kilometers. These tails always point away from the Sun due to the influence of solar wind.

Meteor characteristics

Meteors are commonly known as 'shooting stars,' but they are not stars at all. Instead, they are bright streaks of light in the sky caused by small particles from space entering Earth's atmosphere and burning up due to friction. These particles, often fragments from comets or asteroids, are typically very small. They range in size from tiny grains of sand to larger pieces up to a few meters in diameter. As they travel through Earth's atmosphere at high speeds, the intense heat generated causes them to glow brightly and eventually disintegrate.

Size comparison

When comparing the sizes of comets and meteors, there's a stark difference. Comets are generally larger celestial bodies. They can range from a few kilometers to tens of kilometers in diameter. On the other hand, meteors are much smaller. A meteor's size is usually less than a meter before it enters Earth's atmosphere. Most meteors originate as tiny particles no bigger than a grain of sand, which is why they burn up quickly as they descend through the atmosphere.

Distance comparison

The distances from which comets and meteors originate are quite different. Comets come from the far reaches of the solar system, specifically from regions such as the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud. These distant areas house icy bodies that occasionally get perturbed and sent towards the inner solar system. In contrast, meteors are usually much closer. They are fragments that break off from comets or asteroids and enter Earth's atmosphere. Therefore, while comets journey from the vast outer regions, meteors are remnants from these journeys that end up burning in Earth's skies.

Visibility duration

Another notable difference between comets and meteors is how long they remain visible from Earth. Comets can be visible for extended periods, ranging from weeks to months, as they travel across the sky. Their visibility is due to the bright coma and tails they develop when near the Sun. Conversely, meteors are visible only for a fleeting moment. As they burn up in Earth's atmosphere, the bright streak they produce, known as a meteor, may last only a few seconds or minutes. This brief visibility is because the small particles disintegrate very quickly upon entering the atmosphere.

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What are the differences between a comet and a meteor in terms of their size, distance, and how long they remain visible?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define Comets

Define Meteors

Compare Sizes

Compare Distances

Compare Visibility Duration

Key Concepts

Comet characteristics

Meteor characteristics

Size comparison

Distance comparison

Visibility duration

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