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Chapter 12: Problem 35

Describe differences between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud as sources of comets. What is the ultimate fate of a comet from each of these reservoirs?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Kuiper Belt comets have short periods and mostly orbit near the solar system's plane; Oort Cloud comets have long periods and come from any direction. Kuiper Belt comets lose their volatiles after many orbits; Oort Cloud comets may be ejected or settle into new orbits.

Step by step solution

01

- Introduction to the Kuiper Belt

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system beyond Neptune's orbit, extending roughly from 30 AU to 50 AU from the Sun. It contains many small icy bodies, remnants from the early solar system. Short-period comets, which have orbits less than 200 years, typically originate from the Kuiper Belt.
02

- Introduction to the Oort Cloud

The Oort Cloud is a distant spherical shell of icy objects that surrounds the solar system at distances ranging from about 2,000 AU to as far as 100,000 AU. Long-period comets, which have orbits longer than 200 years, primarily come from the Oort Cloud.
03

- Differences in Comet Origins

Comets from the Kuiper Belt (short-period comets) tend to have orbits that are more closely aligned with the plane of the solar system, whereas comets from the Oort Cloud (long-period comets) can have orbits that come from any direction, due to the spherical nature of the Oort Cloud.
04

- Ultimate Fate of Kuiper Belt Comets

Comets from the Kuiper Belt can eventually become extinct comets or break apart as they lose their volatile components after many trips around the Sun.
05

- Ultimate Fate of Oort Cloud Comets

Comets from the Oort Cloud, after their first approach to the Sun, may either be ejected from the solar system entirely due to gravitational interactions or may settle into long-period comet orbits or even become short-period comets if their orbits are altered significantly.

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Key Concepts

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

short-period comets
Short-period comets are icy celestial bodies that typically take less than 200 years to complete an orbit around the Sun. These comets mainly originate from the Kuiper Belt, a region that extends from about 30 AU to 50 AU beyond Neptune.
Short-period comets have certain distinguishing characteristics:
  • Orbital paths: Their orbits are usually more aligned with the plane of the solar system.
  • Frequencies: Due to their shorter orbits, they are more likely to be observed frequently from Earth.
  • Interactions with the Sun: As they frequently pass close to the Sun, short-period comets lose their volatile ice and dust over time, eventually becoming extinct or breaking apart.
long-period comets
Long-period comets are known for their elongated orbits, taking more than 200 years, sometimes even thousands of years, to make one complete journey around the Sun.
These comets primarily come from the Oort Cloud, a distant spherical shell of icy objects surrounding the solar system, extending from roughly 2,000 AU to 100,000 AU.
Key features of long-period comets include:
  • Orbital characteristics: They can enter the inner solar system from any direction due to the spherical nature of their origin.
  • Interactions: Their rare visits mean they have often preserved the pristine materials from the early solar system.
  • Futures: After their first approach to the Sun, they might become ejected from the solar system or settle into a shorter period orbit as a result of gravitational interactions.
solar system reservoirs
Understanding the two main reservoirs of comets, the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud, is essential for grasping comet behavior and origin.
The Kuiper Belt:
  • Located beyond Neptune's orbit, from about 30 AU to 50 AU.
  • A source of short-period comets.
  • Contains remnants from the early solar system, primarily icy bodies.
The Oort Cloud:
  • Positions far beyond the Kuiper Belt, ranging from roughly 2,000 AU to 100,000 AU.
  • A spherical region surrounding the solar system.
  • Home to long-period comets.
These reservoirs are crucial for our understanding of the solar system's structure and the evolutionary paths comets take.
comet evolution
The journey and transformation of comets over time is a captivating aspect of our solar system.
Comets from the Kuiper Belt:
  • As they frequently pass close to the Sun, they lose volatile materials (like ice and gases).
  • Eventually, these short-period comets can become extinct or completely disintegrate.
Comets from the Oort Cloud:
  • Their first approach to the Sun can be a dramatic event, potentially altering their orbits.
  • Some might be ejected entirely from the solar system, while others could become short-period comets if their paths are significantly changed.
The study of comet evolution helps scientists understand the dynamic processes at play in the solar system and the history of its celestial bodies.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Earth's Moon has a diameter of \(3,474 \mathrm{km}\) and orbits at an average distance of \(384,400 \mathrm{km}\). At this distance it subtends an angle just slightly larger than half a degree in Earth's sky. Pluto's moon Charon has a diameter of \(1,186 \mathrm{km}\) and orbits at a distance of \(19,600 \mathrm{km}\) from the dwarf planet. a. Compare the appearance of Charon in Pluto's skies with the Moon in Earth's skies. b. Describe where in the sky Charon would appear as seen from various locations on Pluto.

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

Meteorites can provide information about a. the early composition of the Solar System. b. the composition of asteroids. c. other planets. d. all of the above

Ceres has a diameter of \(975 \mathrm{km}\) and a period of about 9 hours. What is the rotational speed of a point on the surface of this dwarf planet?

Comet Halley has a mass of approximately \(2.2 \times 10^{14}\) kg. It loses about \(3 \times 10^{11} \mathrm{kg}\) each time it passes the Sun. a. The first confirmed observation of the comet was made in 230 BCE. Assuming a constant period of 76.4 years, how many times has it reappeared since that early sighting? b. How much mass has the comet lost since 230 BCE? c. What percentage of the comet's total mass does this amount represent?
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