While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

* Astronomers estimate that the number of comets orbiting the Sun is in the billions.
* 81P/Wild is one of many comets whose orbit has changed over time.
* 81P/Wild's orbit once lay between the orbits of Uranus and Jupiter.
* The comet's orbit is now positioned between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars.

The student wants to make and support a generalization about the orbits of comets. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish these goals?

Question

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

* Astronomers estimate that the number of comets orbiting the Sun is in the billions.
* 81P/Wild is one of many comets whose orbit has changed over time.
* 81P/Wild's orbit once lay between the orbits of Uranus and Jupiter.
* The comet's orbit is now positioned between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars.

The student wants to make and support a generalization about the orbits of comets. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish these goals?

Accepted Answer

A comet's orbit around the Sun may change over time: the orbit of comet 81P/Wild once lay between the orbits of Uranus and Jupiter but is now positioned between those of Jupiter and Mars.

Answer

Astronomers estimate that the number of comets orbiting the Sun is in the billions; the comets' orbits may change over time.

Answer

Like Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars, billions of comets orbit the Sun.

Answer

One example of a comet is 81P/Wild, whose orbit around the Sun once lay between Uranus's and Jupiter's orbits but is now positioned between those of Jupiter and Mars.