Cadet Competition Written Practice Exam

What is composed of frozen gases, dust, and icy lumps, and sheds a long tail as it moves?

1. A meteor

2. A planet

3. A comet

4. An asteroid

The correct answer is: A comet

A comet is made up of frozen gases, dust, and icy lumps, which together constitute a small celestial body. As comets approach the Sun, the heat causes the frozen gases and ice to vaporize, creating a glowing atmosphere called a coma and often leading to the formation of a spectacular tail. This tail is a result of the solar wind and radiation pressure pushing the released gas and dust away from the comet, creating the distinctive appearance that makes comets so unique and recognizable in the night sky. In contrast, meteors are small particles that enter Earth's atmosphere, planets are large celestial bodies that orbit stars and do not typically have the same icy composition as comets, and asteroids are primarily rocky or metallic bodies found mainly in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. None of these other options share the same characteristics of having a tail formed from the release of gases and dust as they move through space.