Subject :NSO Class : Class 8
The nearest planet to the Earth is
A Venus
B Mercury
C Jupiter
D Mars
Until recently, it was believed that the answer to this question should be A, that is, Venus. However, recent times have proven, through the use of advanced mathematics and simulations, that in fact, Mercury is the closest planet to the Earth.
Ans 1:
Class : Class 8
In my opinion, the correct option is option (B) - Mercury. In fact, the question is phrased in an incorrect manner, for no planet is consistently the nearest planet to the Earth all the time (because the planets revolving around the Sun orbit at different speeds and at different angles), thus no planet can be the 'nearest' planet to the Earth. Therefore, the question should be : "The nearest planet to the Earth, on average, is -", or "The planet that is mostly the closest planet to the Earth is -". If the question was phrased this way, the answer would be Mercury, as Mercury, on average, is the closest planet to the Earth (according to recent research). This is because Mercury has the smallest orbit of all celestial objects orbiting the Sun. Thus, from Earth, Mercury never moves as far as the other planets (Venus and Mars) throughout their revolution around the Sun. For example, when Mars and Venus are opposite the Earth (across the Sun), Mercury is the closest planet to the Earth. By averaging these distances, it is evident that Mercury, due to its small orbit, is mostly the closest planet to the Earth. In fact, due to its small body, Mercury is the closest celestial body for every other celestial body orbiting the Sun (according to current research), on average. Thus, in my opinion, the answer to this question should not be option (A), but option (B)
Ans 2:
Class : Class 9
Ans 3:
Class : Class 8
Its Mercury
Ans 4:
Class : Class 8
Ans 5:
Class : Class 8