The elliptical orbit of Mercury measurably precesses because
A)Mercury moves in the gravitational field of the other planets.
B)Mercury travels faster than any other planet.
C)Mercury is closest to the Sun.
D)the Sun's gravitational field varies along Mercury's orbit.
E)none of these

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The precession of Mercury's orbit can be explained by the fact that the Sun's gravitational field varies along Mercury's orbit. This is known as the general theory of relativity, which predicts a slight increase in the precession of Mercury's orbit due to the curvature of space-time caused by the Sun's mass. This effect is not observed for other planets because it is much smaller in magnitude.

The Elliptical Orbit of Mercury Measurably Precesses Because