Page | 1
ASTR 1345 FINAL EXAM ACTUAL
QUESTIONS 2026 WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
1. Compared with the coma, or the visible fuzzy ball, of a comet
106 km in diameter, the diameter of the nucleus of the comet
is - correct answer-very small, about 1/105, or 10 km.
2. The nucleus of a typical comet is - correct answer-irregular in
shape, with a very dark and cratered surface.
3. In a single photograph of a comet and its tail, the only
direction that one can determine with certainty is the
direction - correct answer-away from the Sun because the
tail is pushed in this direction by the solar wind.
4. Comet tails are the result of - correct answer-melting and
evaporation of ices from the comet core.
, Page | 2
5. The gas and ion tail of a comet - correct answer-is always
blown away from the comet in the anti-Sun direction by the
solar wind.
6. The particular feature of a comet that exhibits the most
structure and always points away from the Sun is its - correct
answer-ion or gas tail.
7. What mechanism controls the direction in which a comet's
ion tail is aligned in space? - correct answer-flow of solar
wind past the comet's head
8. The dust tail of a comet has which group of characteristics? -
correct answer-curved, wide, and without structure, but thin
and transparent to starlight
9. The orbits of periodic comets - correct answer-can extend far
out beyond the orbit of Pluto and can be oriented in any
direction in the solar system.
, Page | 3
10. The orbits of comets are - correct answer-randomly
oriented in the solar system and can extend far beyond the
orbit of Pluto.
11. What is Sedna? - correct answer-largest object discovered
beyond the orbit of Pluto38- largest object discovered
beyond the orbit of Plutoradiation pressure
12. What defines a comet as a long-period comet? - correct
answer-The comet has a period longer than 200 years
13. A shooting star is a - correct answer-small particle of
interplanetary dust burning up and glowing as it enters
Earth's atmosphere.
14. The luminous trails of small dust particles that are
completely vaporized in Earth's atmosphere are known as -
correct answer-Meteors
15. A chunk of rock and metal 10 km in diameter orbiting the
Sun would be called a(n) - correct answer-Asteroid
ASTR 1345 FINAL EXAM ACTUAL
QUESTIONS 2026 WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS.
1. Compared with the coma, or the visible fuzzy ball, of a comet
106 km in diameter, the diameter of the nucleus of the comet
is - correct answer-very small, about 1/105, or 10 km.
2. The nucleus of a typical comet is - correct answer-irregular in
shape, with a very dark and cratered surface.
3. In a single photograph of a comet and its tail, the only
direction that one can determine with certainty is the
direction - correct answer-away from the Sun because the
tail is pushed in this direction by the solar wind.
4. Comet tails are the result of - correct answer-melting and
evaporation of ices from the comet core.
, Page | 2
5. The gas and ion tail of a comet - correct answer-is always
blown away from the comet in the anti-Sun direction by the
solar wind.
6. The particular feature of a comet that exhibits the most
structure and always points away from the Sun is its - correct
answer-ion or gas tail.
7. What mechanism controls the direction in which a comet's
ion tail is aligned in space? - correct answer-flow of solar
wind past the comet's head
8. The dust tail of a comet has which group of characteristics? -
correct answer-curved, wide, and without structure, but thin
and transparent to starlight
9. The orbits of periodic comets - correct answer-can extend far
out beyond the orbit of Pluto and can be oriented in any
direction in the solar system.
, Page | 3
10. The orbits of comets are - correct answer-randomly
oriented in the solar system and can extend far beyond the
orbit of Pluto.
11. What is Sedna? - correct answer-largest object discovered
beyond the orbit of Pluto38- largest object discovered
beyond the orbit of Plutoradiation pressure
12. What defines a comet as a long-period comet? - correct
answer-The comet has a period longer than 200 years
13. A shooting star is a - correct answer-small particle of
interplanetary dust burning up and glowing as it enters
Earth's atmosphere.
14. The luminous trails of small dust particles that are
completely vaporized in Earth's atmosphere are known as -
correct answer-Meteors
15. A chunk of rock and metal 10 km in diameter orbiting the
Sun would be called a(n) - correct answer-Asteroid
