two scientists are attempting to determine whether an object is a comet or an asteroid. The table lists the questions they had and their observations. where was the object observer? the oort cloud. what is the object made of? dust and ice. does the object have a visible tail? no scientist 1 determines that the object is a comet while scientist 2 determines that the object is an asteroid. wich scientist is correct and why?
Scientist 1 is correct in determining that the object is a comet.
There are several key observations that lead to this conclusion:
1. The object was observed in the Oort cloud, which is a region far beyond the orbit of Pluto where comets are believed to originate. It is highly unlikely to find asteroids in the Oort cloud.
2. The object is made of dust and ice, which are typical materials found in comets. Asteroids, on the other hand, are primarily rocky or metallic in composition.
3. The object does not have a visible tail. Comets are known for their characteristic tails, which are formed when the sun heats up the icy nucleus, causing vaporization and the release of gas and dust. Since the object does not have a visible tail, it indicates that the outgassing process has not yet started, further supporting the idea that it is a comet.
Based on these observations, it is clear that the object exhibits typical characteristics of a comet rather than an asteroid. Therefore, Scientist 1 is correct in identifying the object as a comet.
Based on the given information, Scientist 1 is correct in determining that the object is a comet, while Scientist 2 is incorrect in determining that it is an asteroid. Here's the explanation:
- The first question, "Where was the object observed?" states that the object was observed in the Oort Cloud. The Oort Cloud is a region of space beyond the outermost planets, primarily composed of icy objects like comets. This observation supports the possibility of the object being a comet.
- The second question asks for the object's composition. The observation says that the object is made of dust and ice. Comets are typically composed of a mixture of ice, dust, and rock, while asteroids are mainly made up of rock and metal. The presence of ice in this case further suggests that the object is a comet.
- The third question inquires about the visibility of a tail. The observation states that the object does not have a visible tail. One of the distinctive characteristics of comets is their tail, which becomes visible as the comet gets closer to the Sun. Since the object does not have a visible tail, it is unlikely to be a comet.
Combining these observations, it can be concluded that Scientist 1 is correct in identifying the object as a comet. The presence of dust and ice composition, along with the fact that it was observed in the Oort Cloud, supports this determination. Scientist 2's conclusion that the object is an asteroid is therefore incorrect.
To determine which scientist is correct, we can analyze their observations and compare them with the characteristics of comets and asteroids.
Let's analyze the observations:
1. Location: The object was observed in the Oort Cloud. The Oort Cloud is a region in our solar system where comets are known to originate. Comets are primarily found in the outer regions of the solar system, while asteroids are typically found in the asteroid belt located between Mars and Jupiter.
2. Composition: The object is composed of dust and ice. This observation aligns with the typical composition of comets. Comets are often referred to as "dirty snowballs" because they are composed of a mixture of rock, dust, water ice, and other organic compounds.
3. Visible Tail: The object does not have a visible tail. Comets are known for developing bright, glowing tails as they approach the Sun due to the heat vaporizing the ice in their nucleus. On the other hand, asteroids do not have tails since they are made up mostly of rock and metal.
Based on these observations, scientist 1 is correct in identifying the object as a comet. The object's location in the Oort Cloud and its composition of dust and ice strongly suggest that it is indeed a comet, consistent with our understanding of comets in our solar system.