What is the typical orbital eccentricity (e) of a planet moving in a nearly circular orbit around the Sun?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Close to 0
- Step 1: Orbital eccentricity is a dimensionless parameter that determines the amount by which its orbit around another body deviates from a perfect circle.
- Step 2: A value of e = 0 corresponds to a perfect circle; most major planets have nearly circular orbits (Earth's e is 0.0167, Venus is 0.0068, Neptune is 0.0086).
Answer
Close to 0
Why not the others: 'Exactly 1.0' An eccentricity of exactly 1.0 defines a parabolic open trajectory (unbound escape orbit); 'Greater than 1.0' An eccentricity greater than 1.0 defines a hyperbolic open trajectory; 'Close to 0.5' An eccentricity of 0.5 represents a highly elongated ellipse, like that of a periodic comet.
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