Suppose Earth,the Sun,and a planet are aligned along a straight line.The time interval until this alignment occurs again is a:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The time interval until the alignment of Earth, the Sun, and a planet occurs again is a synodic period. This is because it is the period of time it takes for the planet to return to the same apparent position relative to the Sun as observed from Earth. The sidereal period is the time it takes for a planet to complete one orbit around the Sun, and the solar period is the 24-hour period of Earth's rotation around its own axis. The tropical period is the time it takes for the Sun to return to the same position relative to the Earth's seasons, and is not relevant to this scenario.

Suppose Earth,the Sun,and a Planet Are Aligned Along a Straight