Question

7. Which of the following planets has an orbital eccentricity most like the orbital eccentricity of the Moon (e - 0.0549)? A) Mercury B) Venus C) Mars D) Jupiter E) Saturn

Answer 1

Answer:

E) Saturn (e- 0.0541)

Explanation:

The eccentricity of an ellipse (e) is a value that determines the shape of the ellipse, in the sense that it is more rounded or if it approaches a segment. Let "c" be the focal semidistance and "a" the major semi-axis:

e =  c / a

The planets glide majestically into an orbit around the Sun, leaving no trace of the gravitational constraints that drive them. However, an orbit is the path followed by a planet to satisfy the constraints of the gravitational effects of the multiple celestial bodies and in particular of the sun.

The orbits have a perihelion and aphelion, therefore an eccentricity and an inclination, an ascending node, a vernal point and an argument of the perihelion. The orbits of the planets are all more or less in the same plane.  This orbital plane is called the ecliptic.

In the case of saturn, the orbital eccentricity is 0.054150600