The elliptical orbit of a planet around the Sun is shown on the diagram. Which of the following statements is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Kepler's laws of planetary motion, the Sun is located at one of the foci of the elliptical orbit of the planet. Point B is one of the foci of the ellipse, thus the sun might be located at point B. The eccentricity of the orbit is a measure of how elongated the ellipse is and is equal to the distance between the foci divided by the length of the major axis. In this case, the distance between the foci is greater than the length of the major axis, so the eccentricity is greater than 1, eliminating option B. The eccentricity is always positive, so option A is also incorrect. The Sun cannot be located at points C or D, as they are not foci of the ellipse. Therefore, the correct answer is E: the sun might be at point B.

The Elliptical Orbit of a Planet Around the Sun Is