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Chapter 12: Problem 6

Perihelion is the point in an orbit ___ the Sun; aphelion is the point in an orbit ___ the Sun. a. closest to; farthest from b. farthest from; closer to c. at one focus of; at the other focus of

Short Answer

Expert verified
a. closest to; farthest from

Step by step solution

01

Understand Perihelion

Perihelion is a term used to describe the point in the orbit of a planet, asteroid, or comet where it is nearest to the Sun.
02

Understand Aphelion

Aphelion is the point in the orbit where the celestial body is farthest from the Sun.
03

Choose the Correct Answer

Based on the definitions, the correct description is that perihelion is the point closest to the Sun and aphelion is the point farthest from the Sun.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Perihelion
When we talk about orbits in the context of celestial bodies, the term 'perihelion' is essential. Perihelion refers to the point in the orbit of a planet, comet, or asteroid where it is closest to the Sun. This is significant because at perihelion, the object experiences the strongest gravitational pull from the Sun, leading to higher orbital speeds.
Understanding perihelion helps in comprehending how different positions in the orbit affect planetary motion and climatic variations. For example, Earth's perihelion occurs around January 3rd each year, meaning the Earth is closest to the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere's winter.
Some important points about perihelion include:
  • Perihelion affects the speed of the celestial body - it's faster near perihelion due to stronger gravitational pull.
  • Orbits are elliptical, which means the distance to the Sun varies.
  • Perihelion is a point of minimum distance but maximum velocity within an orbit.
Aphelion
Aphelion is the counterpart to perihelion. This term refers to the point in the orbit of a celestial body where it is farthest from the Sun. At aphelion, the gravitational pull of the Sun is weakest, resulting in the slowest orbital speed of the body.
For Earth, aphelion occurs around July 4th each year. Despite being farthest from the Sun, this is during the peak of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, showing that the seasonal changes are more impacted by the tilt of Earth's axis rather than its distance from the Sun.
Key details about aphelion include:
  • Orbital speed is slower at aphelion due to reduced gravitational pull.
  • It marks the point of maximum distance in the elliptical orbit.
  • Understanding aphelion can help explain certain climatic and environmental patterns.
Celestial Bodies
Celestial bodies are objects from space, like planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and stars. These bodies follow specific paths, known as orbits, around larger astronomical entities like stars or planets.
The study of celestial bodies includes understanding the laws of orbital mechanics, which govern their motions. For example, Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion help explain how these bodies move in elliptical orbits and how their speeds vary depending on their position within the orbit.
Some key aspects of celestial bodies include:
  • They can be natural, like planets or moons, or man-made, like satellites.
  • Their motions are governed by gravitational forces and other physical laws.
  • Studying these bodies helps us understand the larger universe and our place within it.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Meteor showers occur because Earth passes through the path of a. another planet. b. a planetesimal. c. a comet. d. the Moon.

Describe differences between the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud as sources of comets. What is the ultimate fate of a comet from each of these reservoirs?

Citizen science projects: a. Go to Asteroid Zoo (http://www.asteroidzoo.org/). What are the science goals of this project? Click on "Classify" and read through the Tutorial and Guide. Classify some frames, and save a copy for your homework. b. Go to cosmoquest (https://cosmoquest.org), and click on Asteroid Mappers. What are the science goals? Read through the FAQ and the Tutorial. If you don't already have an account (from Moon Mappers), create one. Log in and get some images, and mark some craters. Do they have data on Ceres? If so, analyze some of those images too.

Most asteroids are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but astronomers are especially interested in the relative few whose orbits cross that of Earth. Why?

Meteorites can provide information about all of these except a. the early composition of the Solar System. b. the composition of asteroids. c. the composition of comets. d. the Oort Cloud.
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