An icy leftover planetesimal orbiting the Sun is
A)a comet.
B)a meteor.
C)an asteroid.
D)a meteorite.
E)possibly any of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An icy leftover planetesimal orbiting the Sun is most likely a comet as comets are composed of ice, dust, and small rocky particles. Meteor, asteroid, and meteorite are generally made of rocky or metallic material and do not contain significant amounts of ice. It is possible for a planetesimal to become an asteroid or meteorite after losing its icy component due to heating or other factors, but the initial state described in the question is most likely a comet.

An Icy Leftover Planetesimal Orbiting the Sun Is