How does the Ion Tail orient itself relative to the Sun due to solar forces?
Answer
Directly away from the Sun
The orientation of the Ion Tail is dictated by the strong interaction between the charged gas ions and the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the Sun. This interaction causes the ions to be swept along the magnetic field lines associated with the solar wind. As a result, the Ion Tail is almost invariably straight and points precisely away from the solar source, irrespective of the comet's actual direction of travel or orbital position relative to the Sun.
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