If an object's orbit around the Sun has an eccentricity of 0.8,then the orbit is
A) a straight line.
B) a long,thin ellipse.
C) almost circular.
D) exactly circular.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

An eccentricity of 0.8 indicates a highly eccentric orbit, meaning that the orbit is stretched out into a long, thin ellipse. If the eccentricity were close to 0, the orbit would be almost circular, and if it were exactly 0, the orbit would be perfectly circular. A straight line is not a possible orbit around the Sun.

If an Object's Orbit Around the Sun Has an Eccentricity