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If there's no friction in space, why do comets have tail?

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Great question! As it turns out, space is not entirely empty and we can see there's is just a tiny bit of friction in the interplanetary space of our solar system. read more

As it turns out, space is not entirely empty and we can see there's is just a tiny bit of friction in the interplanetary space of our solar system. This friction is much too small to actually erode the comet's surface, but it does have a (very tiny) effect on very small particles. read more

Comet tails do not come from friction by universe space. They come instead from the solar wind : radiation from the Sun cause ice and other material on the comets to vaporize, and create a stream of gas. read more

A comet's tail has nothing to do with friction or the lack of it. When a comet approaches the sun, the "solar wind," or force created by the flow of photons and other particles radially outward from the sun pushes some of the gaseous material off the head of the comet and into space in the direction opposite to the direction to the sun. read more

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