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What Are Comets

Interactive passage with audio narration, comprehension questions, and printable PDF.

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Format: Interactive (Online), Printable (PDF)
Grades: 5678
Subjects: scienceela
Standards: MS-ESS1-3
Languages: English, Spanish

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What's included

Reading passage

Reading comprehension

Audio narration

With word word highlighting

Comprehension quiz

Auto-graded

Writing activity

Open-ended response

Glossary & flashcards

Vocabulary practice

Differentiated version

Adapted for varied levels

Spanish translation

Bilingual support

About this reader

This 400-500 word informational science reading passage for middle school students (grades 6-8) explores the fascinating world of comets. Aligned with NGSS standards MS-ESS1.B and MS-ESS1-3, the passage defines comets as icy bodies from the outer solar system and explains their composition of ice, dust, and rock. Students learn why comets develop glowing comas and long tails only when they swing close to the Sun, understanding the behavior and characteristics of these celestial objects. The audio-integrated passage includes real-world examples, such as Comet NEOWISE, and connects to Earth and space systems. Supporting materials include a Spanish translation, simplified differentiated version for English Language Learners, glossary of key terms, multiple-choice comprehension questions, writing activities, and graphic organizers. This comprehensive resource helps students understand the nature of comets and their place in our solar system while developing scientific literacy and critical thinking skills.

Written by Workybooks TeamPublished by Workybooks

Sample passage and quiz content

CONTENT PREVIEW

Comets are icy bodies that travel through the solar system. They come from the cold, distant regions beyond the planets. Comet 67P Seen by Kepler/ NASA

Comets are icy bodies that travel through the solar system. They come from the cold, distant regions beyond the planets. Scientists describe comets as frozen mixtures of ice, dust, and rock. Most of the time, comets remain dark and invisible as they orbit far from the Sun. However, when a comet swings close to the Sun, something remarkable happens.

The solid center of a comet is called the nucleus. The nucleus can range from a few hundred meters to tens of kilometers wide. It contains water ice, frozen gases, dust particles, and rocky material. Scientists often compare the nucleus to a dirty snowball. As a comet approaches the Sun, solar heat causes the ice to change directly from solid to gas. This process is called sublimation. The escaping gases carry dust particles with them, creating a glowing cloud around the nucleus.

This glowing cloud is called the coma. The coma can grow to be hundreds of thousands of kilometers across. Evidence shows that sunlight reflects off the dust and gas in the coma, making it visible from Earth. The coma and nucleus together form the head of the comet. But the most striking feature appears next. Solar wind and radiation pressure push gas and dust away from the head. This creates the comet's famous tail.

Comets can develop two different types of tails. The dust tail appears yellowish-white because sunlight reflects off dust particles. The ion tail appears bluish and forms when solar wind strips electrons from gas molecules. Both tails always point away from the Sun, not behind the comet's direction of travel. This means a comet's tail can actually lead the way as it moves away from the Sun.

In July 2020, Comet NEOWISE became visible to observers on Earth. Scientists tracked its journey as it passed within 103 million kilometers of the Sun. Skywatchers could see its bright coma and long tail stretching across the night sky. This event reminded people that comets continue to visit the inner solar system regularly.

Understanding comets matters because they may contain material from the early solar system. Scientists explain that studying comets can reveal information about conditions billions of years ago. Comets also remind us that our solar system remains an active and changing place. These icy travelers connect us to the vast space beyond our planet.

Interesting Fact: Some comets take millions of years to complete one orbit around the Sun, while others return every few decades. Halley's Comet returns approximately every 76 years and will next be visible from Earth in 2061.

What are comets primarily made of?

Ice, dust, and rockOnly frozen waterMetal and mineralsGas and plasma

Where do comets come from in the solar system?

The asteroid belt between Mars and JupiterThe cold, distant regions beyond the planetsThe surface of MarsNear the Sun

What is sublimation?

When water freezes into iceWhen gas turns into liquidWhen a solid changes directly into a gasWhen liquid evaporates slowly

What causes a comet to develop a glowing coma?

The comet colliding with asteroidsSolar heat causing ice to sublimate and release gas and dustThe comet spinning very fastLightning strikes in space

Why do comet tails always point away from the Sun?

Because of Earth's gravityBecause comets always move away from the SunBecause solar wind and radiation pressure push gas and dust away from the SunBecause of magnetic fields in space

What makes the dust tail appear yellowish-white?

Chemical reactions with oxygenSunlight reflecting off dust particlesHeat from the Sun burning the dustElectricity in the tail

How does the ion tail form?

When dust particles collideWhen ice melts into waterWhen solar wind strips electrons from gas moleculesWhen rocks break apart

Why is studying comets important to scientists?

They can predict the weather on EarthThey may contain material from the early solar systemThey can be mined for waterThey help satellites communicate

Comets are visible and have tails even when they are far from the Sun.

TrueFalse

A comet's tail can sometimes lead the way as the comet moves away from the Sun.

TrueFalse