Question

Rank the orbital periods (from longest to shortest) of the planets in our solar system.

a) Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury
b) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
c) Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury
d) Mercury, Earth, Venus, Mars

Answer 1

The orbital periods of the planets from longest to shortest are Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury, making option (c) the correct answer.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question involves ranking the orbital periods of planets in our solar system from longest to shortest for Mars, Venus, Earth, and Mercury. According to Kepler's third law, a planet's orbital period increases with its distance from the Sun. Thus, the correct ranking, taking into account the increasing distance from the Sun, is:

1. Mars
2. Earth
3. Venus
4. Mercury

Mercury, being the closest to the Sun, has the shortest orbital period. The correct answer to the question is option (c): Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury.