Question

Choose the best answer to each of the following. Explain your reasoning with one or more complete sentences. The correct order for the eight official planets in our solar system, from closest to farthest from the Sun, is (a) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus; (b) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn; (c) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Short answer

The correct order of planets is option (c): Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the question

The problem is asking us to identify the correct order of planets in our solar system based on their distance from the Sun, from closest to farthest.

Recall the order of planets

The planets in the solar system, in order of increasing distance from the Sun, are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Analyze the options

We need to compare the options provided with the correct order. Option (a) is incorrect because it lists Saturn before Jupiter and Uranus before Neptune. Option (b) is incorrect because it lists Uranus before Neptune and Saturn after Neptune. Option (c) matches the correct order: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Select the correct answer

Option (c) is the correct order of planets from closest to farthest from the Sun.

Key concepts

Solar System

The Solar System is our cosmic neighborhood, consisting of the Sun and everything bound to it by gravity. This includes the eight planets, their moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and dust. The vastness of space within the Solar System is mind-boggling, yet it is a place of incredible beauty and order. The Sun, a massive star at the center, is by far the most significant object in the Solar System. It not only provides light and heat but also dictates the orbits of everything around it.

Understanding the Solar System requires grasping the concept of orbital dynamics: objects travel along elliptical paths around the Sun due to its gravitational pull. The inner region, containing the terrestrial planets, is dense and rocky, while the outer region is colder and home to gas giants. Additionally, millions of asteroids and comets occupy different zones, like the asteroid belt and Kuiper Belt, stretching outwards from the Sun.

Order of Planets

Knowing the order of planets in the Solar System is essential to understanding our place in the cosmos. From closest to the Sun, the eight official planets are arranged as follows: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Each planet has unique characteristics:

• Mercury is the smallest, with extreme temperature changes.
• Venus is similar in size to Earth but has a toxic atmosphere and runaway greenhouse effect.
• Earth is the only planet known to support life.
• Mars is known for its red appearance and potential for past water.
• Jupiter, the largest, is known for its massive storms like the Great Red Spot.
• Saturn is famous for its beautiful ring system.
• Uranus is unique for its tilted rotation axis.
• Neptune is noted for its intense blue color and strong winds.

Learning this order is key in understanding planetary arrangement and the structure of the Solar System.

Planetary Distances

Planetary distances in the Solar System are vast, with each planet located at a varying distance from the Sun. In astronomical terms, these distances are measured in Astronomical Units (AU). One AU is the average distance from Earth to the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.

Here are the distances of the planets from the Sun in AU:

• Mercury: 0.39 AU
• Venus: 0.72 AU
• Earth: 1.00 AU
• Mars: 1.52 AU
• Jupiter: 5.20 AU
• Saturn: 9.58 AU
• Uranus: 19.18 AU
• Neptune: 30.07 AU

These distances result in planets having diverse conditions, from burning heat to freezing cold. The greater the distance from the Sun, the dimmer the sunlight reaching the planet, affecting its climate and atmosphere. Understanding the concept of planetary distances helps in studying the environmental conditions present on each planet.