What is the difference between asteroids and comets ? 1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic material. 2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus and Mercury. 3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Statement 1 is correct: This accurately describes the fundamental compositional difference. Asteroids are largely chunks of rocky and metallic material, essentially small planetoids. Comets are composed primarily of ice (frozen gases like water, methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide) mixed with dust, rocky particles, and some metallic material. 2. Statement 2 is incorrect: While asteroids are indeed found predominantly in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, comets primarily originate in the outer solar system – the Kuiper Belt (beyond Neptune) and the Oort Cloud (much further out). They are not found mostly between Venus and Mercury. 3. Statement 3 is correct: As a comet approaches the Sun, solar radiation heats it, causing the frozen gases to sublimate (turn directly into gas) and dust particles to be released. This forms a visible atmosphere (coma) and often a perceptible glowing tail pointing away from the Sun. Asteroids, lacking these volatile materials, do not develop such tails. 4. Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 correctly state the difference between asteroids and comets.