GK
SOLAR SYSTEM
|
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
|
|
|
the faster it travels
|
|
|
the slower it travels
|
|
|
Either A or B
|
|
|
None of the above
|
Detailed explanation-1: -The closer a planet is to the Sun, the stronger the Sun’s gravitational pull on it, and the faster the planet moves. The farther it is from the Sun, the weaker the Sun’s gravitational pull, and the slower it moves in its orbit.
Detailed explanation-2: -If a planet is close to the Sun, the distance it orbits around the Sun is fairly short. This distance is called an orbital path. The closer a planet travels to the Sun, the more the Sun’s gravity can pull on the planet. The stronger the pull of the Sun’s gravity, the faster the planet orbits.
Detailed explanation-3: -The point of nearest approach of the planet to the Sun is termed perihelion. The point of greatest separation is aphelion, hence by Kepler’s Second Law, a planet is moving fastest when it is at perihelion and slowest at aphelion.
Detailed explanation-4: -Mercury is the smallest and fastest planet in the solar system. It is also the closest planet to the sun. It is named after the Roman messenger god Mercury, the fastest Roman god.