The center of mass of the system consisting of Earth, the Sun, and the planet Mars is:
A)closer to the Earth than to either of the other bodies
B)closer to the Sun than to either of the other bodies
C)closer to Mars than to either of the other bodies
D)at the geometric center of the triangle formed by the three bodies
E)at the center of the line joining the Earth and Mars

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The center of mass of a system is most influenced by the most massive object. In the system consisting of Earth, the Sun, and Mars, the Sun is by far the most massive object, so the center of mass is closest to the Sun.

The Center of Mass of the System Consisting of Earth