How are asteroids and comets similar? • Both orbit the sun. Both are composed of gases. • Both are composed of rock. • Both are frozen.
Both are composed of rock is the correct similarity between asteroids and comets.
Asteroids and comets share some similarities, such as both orbiting the sun and being composed of rock. However, they also have some distinct differences. Unlike asteroids, comets are composed of various ices, including frozen water, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide. While asteroids can also contain small amounts of ice, their composition is primarily rocky or metallic. So, to summarize, both asteroids and comets orbit the sun and are composed of rocks, but comets are additionally composed of gases and are predominantly frozen.
Asteroids and comets share some similarities, but they are also different in various ways. Here are the similarities between asteroids and comets:
1. Both orbit the Sun: Both asteroids and comets are celestial objects that orbit the Sun. They move within the Solar System, following paths around the Sun due to its gravitational pull.
Now, let's address the differences between asteroids and comets:
1. Composition: Asteroids are mainly composed of rocky and metallic materials. They are often considered as remnants from the early formation of the Solar System. On the other hand, comets are composed of a combination of rocky materials, dust, and ice. The icy part of a comet is what gives it a characteristic coma (a glowing head) and a tail when it gets closer to the Sun and begins to evaporate.
2. Frozen substances: While asteroids don't contain significant amounts of ice, comets are essentially "dirty snowballs" made up of various frozen substances such as water ice, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and methane. As comets approach the Sun, the heat causes these frozen materials to vaporize and create a glowing coma around the nucleus, along with a tail that points away from the Sun.
To summarize, both asteroids and comets orbit the Sun, but their compositions differ significantly. Asteroids are primarily composed of rock and metal, whereas comets contain ice, dust, and rocky materials.