6
QuizMultiple Choice

The Solar System — Test

Question 6 • Earth and Space Science

What does the frequency of the Leonid meteor storm suggest about comet Tempel-Tuttle?

Answer
A
Its debris stream is completely cleared every orbit.
B
Its tail produces debris for 33 years at a time.
C
Its orbit is unrelated to meteor showers on Earth.
D
Its orbit crosses Earth’s orbit on a repeating cycle.

Explanation

The Leonid meteor storm is associated with debris left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle. The storm’s recurring frequency suggests that the comet returns along an orbit that brings its debris into Earth’s path in a repeating cycle. Thus, its orbit crosses Earth’s orbit on a repeating cycle; the frequency does not mean its debris stream is cleared each orbit or that its tail produces debris only for 33 years.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

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