Whipple

Definition

Whipple refers to Fred Lawrence Whipple, an American astronomer who proposed the 'dirty snowball' model for comets. His model describes comets as icy bodies containing dust and other materials that form a glowing coma and tail when near the Sun.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Fred Whipple introduced the 'dirty snowball' model in 1950.
2. The 'dirty snowball' model suggests that comets are composed of ice, dust, and rocky material.
3. Whipple's model explains why comets develop tails when they approach the Sun.
4. The nucleus of a comet, according to Whipple, is made up of frozen gases including water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.
5. Whipple's contributions significantly advanced our understanding of cometary composition and behavior.

Review Questions

• Who proposed the 'dirty snowball' model for comets?
• What materials did Fred Whipple suggest make up a comet in his model?
• How does Whipple's 'dirty snowball' model explain the formation of a comet's tail?

Related terms

Comet: A small celestial body composed mainly of ice and dust that orbits the Sun.

Nucleus: The solid core of a comet, consisting of ice and other frozen gases mixed with dust.

Coma: The nebulous envelope around the nucleus of a comet formed when it passes close to the Sun.