Why is it important that Earth’s orbit is nearly circular?
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1 point
This prevents massive temperature fluctuations that could occur with a more extremely elliptical orbit.
This allows for massive temperature fluctuations that occur with a more circular orbit.
This prevents massive temperature fluctuations that could occur with a more circular orbit.
This allows for gravitational fluctuations that occur with a more extremely elliptical orbit.
The correct answer is:
This prevents massive temperature fluctuations that could occur with a more extremely elliptical orbit.
A nearly circular orbit helps maintain a relatively constant distance between Earth and the Sun throughout the year. This means that the amount of sunlight and solar energy received by different regions of Earth remains relatively stable, resulting in consistent and predictable temperatures. In contrast, a more extremely elliptical orbit would cause significant variations in the distance between Earth and the Sun, leading to much larger temperature fluctuations.
As the MASS of an object increases, its gravitational force ___________.
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1 point
decreases
increases
stays the same
The correct answer is:
increases
According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, the gravitational force between two objects is directly proportional to their masses. Therefore, as the mass of an object increases, its gravitational force also increases.
Why were Tycho Brahe's data and observations important for Kepler's laws?
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1 point
They proved one of the laws to be true.
They disproved the laws.
They provided evidence to support the laws.
They had no relation to the laws.
The correct answer is:
They provided evidence to support the laws.
Tycho Brahe's data and observations were crucial for Johannes Kepler's development of his laws of planetary motion. Tycho Brahe meticulously recorded and analyzed astronomical measurements, particularly of the planet Mars. Kepler, who worked as Brahe's assistant, inherited Brahe's data after his death. Kepler used this data to formulate his laws, which accurately described the motion of planets. Brahe's observations provided the empirical evidence that supported Kepler's laws.
The acceleration of a satellite can be derived by equating the universal gravitational force and the centripetal force.
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1 point
True
False
The correct answer is:
True
The acceleration of a satellite can indeed be derived by equating the universal gravitational force and the centripetal force. This is known as the gravitational force equilibrium or gravitational force balance. By setting the gravitational force equal to the centripetal force, we can derive the equation for the acceleration experienced by a satellite in orbit around a larger body.
Which is the LEAST eccentric orbit?
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1 point
e=0.001
e=0.90
e=1
e=0.25
The least eccentric orbit is when e=0.001.
Eccentricity (e) is a measure of how elliptical or circular an orbit is. An eccentricity of 0 indicates a perfectly circular orbit, while an eccentricity of 1 indicates a highly elongated orbit (parabolic or escape trajectory). Therefore, an eccentricity of 0.001 is closest to a circular orbit and has the least eccentricity among the given options.
There are two objects close to each other. If the mass of one of the objects is doubled while the distance remains the same, how does the gravitational force change?
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1 point
It becomes four times stronger
It becomes half as strong
It remains the same
It becomes twice as strong