SOLAR SYSTEM

UNIVERSE

ASTEROIDS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The orbit of Earth is almost circular and has a period of about 365 days. Compared to the orbit of Earth, which of these objects usually have highly elliptical (oval) orbits and can have periods of over 1000 years?
A
asteroids
B
meteorites
C
comets
D
moons
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The elliptical nature of Earth’s orbit is due entirely to the original force which tossed it away from the solar disc (now the sun). If the momentum of this toss had been greater, the Earth’s orbit would have been more highly elliptical, or it might have been tossed completely out of the solar system forever.

Detailed explanation-2: -Comets go around the Sun in a highly elliptical orbit.

Detailed explanation-3: -A comet while going on an elliptical orbit around the Sun has constant angular momentum due to no external torque and total energy due to Law of conservation of energy at all locations but other quantities vary with locations.

Detailed explanation-4: -Comets are thought to orbit the sun in either the Oort cloud or Kuiper belt. When another star passes by the solar system, its gravity pushes the Oort cloud and/or Kuiper belt and causes comets to descend toward the sun in a highly elliptical orbit with the sun at one focus of the ellipse.

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