Which characteristic describes the behavior of the Dust (Type II) Tail relative to the comet's path?
Answer
It tends to curve, following the comet's orbital path somewhat.
The Dust Tail, or Type II Tail, is formed by heavier dust particles that are pushed away from the nucleus primarily by solar radiation pressure, rather than the solar wind that affects the Ion Tail. Because radiation pressure acts differently than the wind on these heavier particles, the Dust Tail does not point perfectly away from the Sun. Instead, the inertia of the dust particles causes this tail to trail behind the nucleus along the comet's orbital path, resulting in a noticeable curve. This contrasts with the Ion Tail, which is always aligned straight away from the Sun.
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