Suppose we discover a new comet on an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than Mercury every 125 years.What can we conclude?
A)It came from the Oort cloud.
B)It came from the Kuiper belt.
C)It has been on its current orbit for only a very short time compared to the age of our solar system.
D)It has a coma and tail during most of each orbit.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If a comet has an orbit that brings it closer to the Sun than Mercury every 125 years, it means that it has a very long orbital period and has only passed through the inner solar system a few times in the history of the solar system. This suggests that the comet has not been on its current orbit for very long compared to the age of our solar system. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Options A, B, and D do not necessarily follow from the given information.

Suppose We Discover a New Comet on an Orbit That