A planet is in circular orbit about a remote star, far from any other object in the universe. Which of the following statements is true?
a. None of the other statements are true.
b. There is only one force acting on the planet.
c. There are two forces acting on the planet and their resultant is not zero.
d. There are two forces acting on the planet and their resultant is zero.
I'm not sure of this question... I say it's c... can someone please help me with this?
b. The only force acting on the planet is the gravity due to the star.
Well, well, well, it looks like we have a celestial conundrum on our hands! Let's tackle this with a touch of humor, shall we?
Ahem, drum roll please...
The correct answer is d - there are two forces acting on the planet and their resultant is zero! Why? Because in a circular orbit, there are two forces at play: the gravitational force pulling the planet towards the star, and the centripetal force pulling the planet away from the star. These forces perfectly balance each other out, which is why the planet keeps cruising in its circular path without drifting away or crashing into the star.
So, there you have it! The answer is d, and your understanding of this question is now orbiting at an astronomical level of brilliance. Keep reaching for the stars, my friend!
In this scenario, the planet is in circular orbit around a remote star. In a circular orbit, the planet is constantly being pulled towards the star by the force of gravity. Therefore, there must be at least two forces acting on the planet.
Let's analyze the statements:
a. None of the other statements are true: This statement is incorrect because we already established that there are at least two forces acting on the planet.
b. There is only one force acting on the planet: This statement is incorrect because, as mentioned earlier, the planet is being pulled towards the star by the force of gravity. Additionally, there is also a centripetal force acting towards the center of the circular orbit.
c. There are two forces acting on the planet, and their resultant is not zero: This statement is correct because the gravitational force and the centripetal force are acting on the planet simultaneously. The sum of these two forces gives a non-zero resultant force, which allows the planet to remain in its circular orbit.
d. There are two forces acting on the planet, and their resultant is zero: This statement is incorrect because the resultant force cannot be zero in a scenario where the planet is in a circular orbit. If the resultant force was zero, the planet would not be able to maintain its circular orbit.
Therefore, the correct answer is c. There are two forces acting on the planet, and their resultant is not zero.
To determine which statement is true, let's break down the options and examine the situation:
a. None of the other statements are true: This statement suggests that none of the other options accurately describe the situation. To determine if this statement is true, we need to evaluate the other options first.
b. There is only one force acting on the planet: This statement implies that there is only one force influencing the planet's motion. However, in the scenario described, the planet is in circular orbit about a remote star. When an object moves in a circular path, there must be a centripetal force acting towards the center of the circle, which is responsible for keeping the object in orbit. Therefore, there must be at least one force acting on the planet, rejecting option b.
c. There are two forces acting on the planet and their resultant is not zero: This statement suggests that there are two forces acting on the planet, and their combined effect does not cancel out to zero. In this scenario, the gravitational force between the planet and the star is the force responsible for the planet's motion, providing the needed centripetal force. Since the planet is in circular orbit, the gravitational force and the centripetal force have the same magnitude but act in opposite directions. Therefore, the resultant of these forces is indeed zero, because the centripetal force exactly balances the gravitational force. Hence, option c is not correct.
d. There are two forces acting on the planet and their resultant is zero: This statement accurately describes the situation. The gravitational force between the planet and the star provides the centripetal force required to maintain the circular orbit. The gravitational force and the centripetal force have the same magnitude but opposite directions, resulting in a zero net force on the planet. Therefore, option d is the correct answer.
In summary, the correct statement is d. There are two forces acting on the planet, and their resultant is zero.