Grade 8 MISA Practice Questions - Maryland Integrated Science Assessment - Grade 8 Exam

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Astronmers observe that Mercury orbits the Sun at an average orbital speed of 47.9 km/s, while Neptune orbits the Sun at an average speed of only 5.4 km/s. Which gravitational principle explains why inner planets travel faster in their orbits than outer planets?

The gravitational pull of the Sun decreases with distance, requiring closer planets to orbit faster to maintain a stable orbit Outer planets have greater mass, which slows down their forward momentum in space Inner planets are pushed forward by solar wind pressure from the Sun The Sun's magnetic field pulls inner planets forward while repelling outer gas giants

Correct Answer:

The gravitational pull of the Sun decreases with distance, requiring closer planets to orbit faster to maintain a stable orbit

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