Orbital Motion Test Review

How does the shape of an orbit affect a planet's climate?

• It determines the planet's size and mass.

• It affects the distance from the sun, influencing seasonal variations and climate.

• It has no effect on climate whatsoever.

• It dictates the planet's rotation speed.

What is aphelion?

• The point in the orbit of a planet where it is closest to the sun.

• The point in the orbit of a planet where it is farthest from the sun.

• The point in the orbit of a planet where it has the highest speed.

• The point in the orbit of a planet where it has the lowest speed.

What is the relationship between orbital speed and position in an orbit?

• A planet moves fastest at perihelion (closest to the sun) and slowest at aphelion (farthest from the sun).

• A planet moves at a constant speed regardless of its position in the orbit.

• A planet moves fastest at aphelion and slowest at perihelion.

• A planet's speed is highest when it is farthest from the sun.

What is the eccentricity of a circular orbit?

• 0

• 1

• 0.5

• 2

What is the semi-major axis?

• Half of the longest diameter of an ellipse, representing the average distance from the center of the ellipse to its edge.

• The shortest distance from the center of the ellipse to its edge.

• The total distance across the ellipse at its widest point.

• The distance from one focus of the ellipse to the other.

What is Kepler's 3rd Law?

• The square of the orbital period of a planet is directly proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit: T² ∝ a³.

• The orbital period of a planet is inversely proportional to the distance from the sun.

• The speed of a planet is constant throughout its orbit around the sun.

• The sum of the distances from the sun to the planets is constant.

What is an ellipse?

• A geometric shape that resembles a flattened circle, defined by two focal points.

• A three-dimensional shape with all points equidistant from a center point.

• A polygon with four equal sides and angles.

• A curve that is always straight and never bends.

What does eccentricity measure in an orbit?

• The speed of the orbiting body

• The mass of the orbiting body

• The deviation of an orbit from being circular

• The distance between the orbiting body and the star

What is orbital motion?

• The movement of an object in a straight line due to inertia.

• The movement of an object in an orbit around a central point, such as a planet orbiting a star due to gravitational forces.

• The process of an object rotating on its own axis without any external influence.

• The phenomenon of an object being pulled towards the center of a black hole.

How does distance from the sun affect a planet's orbital period?

• The further a planet is from the sun, the longer its orbital period.

• Distance from the sun has no effect on a planet's orbital period.

• The closer a planet is to the sun, the longer its orbital period.

• All planets have the same orbital period regardless of their distance from the sun.