The type I,or gas,tail of a comet
A) is smooth and featureless with a spectrum identical to that of the sun.
B) is present even when the comet is located in the region of the Kuiper belt.
C) is unaffected by the magnetic field of the sun.
D) always points toward the sun.
E) is streaked and shows emission lines of ionized atoms.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gas tail of a comet, also known as the ion tail, is streaked and shows emission lines of ionized atoms because it is formed by the solar wind interacting with the comet's gases, causing them to ionize and emit light.

The Type I,or Gas,tail of a Comet