Which of the following would be the most likely to have a very high eliptical orbit
a) A satellite orbiting around the Earth
b) A planet orbiting around the Sun
c) A comet orbiting around the Sun
d) A moon orbiting around a planet
c) A comet orbiting around the Sun
The most likely object to have a very high elliptical orbit would be a comet. Comets are celestial bodies made up of ice, dust, and rock, and they follow highly elliptical paths around the Sun. These elliptical orbits take them from the outer regions of the solar system (where they spend most of their time in a dormant state) to much closer to the Sun (when they become active and develop a glowing coma and sometimes a tail). The eccentricity of a comet's orbit can vary greatly, but it is not uncommon for comets to have highly elongated, elliptical orbits.
To determine which celestial object is most likely to have a highly elliptical orbit, we need to consider the factors that affect the shape of an orbit. The most crucial factor is the object's distance from the central body it is orbiting, such as a planet, star, or black hole. The greater the distance, the more likely it is to have a highly elliptical orbit.
Based on this information, the celestial object most likely to have a highly elliptical orbit among the options given is a comet. Comets are small icy bodies that orbit the Sun. They spend most of their time in the outer regions of the solar system, far from the influence of other planets. As a result, their orbits are highly elongated and eccentric.
On the other hand, the Moon, Earth, and Mars have relatively circular or slightly elliptical orbits around the Sun. Though their orbits may have some variation, they are much closer to being circular compared to the highly elliptical orbits of comets.
Therefore, a comet from the given options is most likely to have a very high elliptical orbit.