| Date | May 2014 | Marks available | 2 | Reference code | 14M.3.SL.TZ1.11 |
| Level | Standard level | Paper | Paper 3 | Time zone | Time zone 1 |
| Command term | Outline | Question number | 11 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
This question is about comets.
Outline the nature of a comet.
Markscheme
icy/dusty object;
moving around the Sun on a (highly) elliptical orbit;
when close to Sun likely to display atmosphere (coma)/tail;
when far from Sun (ice re-freezes and) atmosphere no longer present;
Award [2] only if it is clearly stated that the object is a part of a Solar system.
Examiners report
HL Candidates scored well. Some candidates did not refer to the Sun or other star. Only a few candidates outlined the nature of another body instead of comet, sometimes an asteroid. Some weaker answers mentioned a body just moving in space. At SL, many answers demonstrated a poor understanding of comets, ranging from parts of dead stars to asteroids to meteors and meteorites.
