What primary substances make up the nucleus of a comet?
Answer
Ice, dust, and rock
Comets are frequently described as dirty snowballs due to their distinct material makeup. Their nuclei consist of a mixture of frozen volatiles—specifically different types of ices—interspersed with mineral dust and rock fragments. As these celestial bodies move closer to the sun, the increasing solar heat causes the ices within the nucleus to sublimate, transitioning directly from a solid state to a gas. This phase change is responsible for releasing the trapped dust and rocky material, which then forms the prominent tails observed from Earth.
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