If the orbit of Mercury were perfectly circular, its rate of precession would be
A)larger.
B)smaller.
C)the same.
D)zero.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mercury's precession is caused by the gravitational pull of other planets, particularly Venus and Jupiter, on its slightly elongated elliptical orbit. If Mercury's orbit were perfectly circular, it would not experience this gravitational pull and there would be no precession. Therefore, the rate of precession would be zero.

If the Orbit of Mercury Were Perfectly Circular, Its Rate