Motions of Objects Around the Sun

What is the term used to describe the motion of planets around the Sun?

• Rotation

• Revolution

• Spin

• Orbit

Which force keeps the planets in their orbits around the Sun?

• Electric force

• Magnetic force

• Gravitational force

• Frictional force

What is the shape of the orbit followed by planets around the Sun?

• circular

• rectangular

• spiral

• elliptical

What is the name of the imaginary line that connects a planet to the Sun and sweeps out equal areas in equal time intervals?

• line of nodes

• line of aphelion

• line of apsides

• line of perihelion

Which planet has the shortest orbital period around the Sun?

• Venus

• Jupiter

• Mars

• Mercury

Which planet has the longest orbital period around the Sun?

• Venus

• Mercury

• Neptune

• Mars

What is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun called?

• light year

• parsec

• kilometer

• astronomical unit

What is the unit used to measure the average distance between the Earth and the Sun?

• Miles

• Kilometers

• Astronomical Unit (AU)

• Light years

What is the name of the phenomenon when a planet appears to move backward in its orbit?

• backward motion

• reverse orbit

• retrograde motion

• opposite direction

What is the name of the force that opposes the motion of a planet and causes it to move in an elliptical orbit?

• Magnetic force

• Frictional force

• Centrifugal force

• Gravitational force