The Earth moves about the Sun in an elliptical orbit. As the Earth moves closer to the Sun, which of the following best describes the Earth-Sun system's moment of inertia?
A) decreases
B) increases
C) remains constant
D) None of the above choices are valid.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The moment of inertia of a system depends on the distribution of mass relative to the axis of rotation. As the Earth moves closer to the Sun, the distance between the Earth and the Sun decreases, leading to a decrease in the moment of inertia of the Earth-Sun system.

The Earth Moves About the Sun in an Elliptical Orbit