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Geography GK · Q40

Universe

Competitive Exams · Geography GK · question 40

Q40

The orbits of planets around the Sun, or of satellites around the Earth, can be ________

A.
Circular and elliptic
Answer
B.
Circular and hyperbolic
C.
Elliptic and parabolic
D.
Parabolic and hyperbolic

Answer: Option A

Solution

Answer: Option A
Solution:
All the planets are satellites around the Sun. Almost every ship launched from Earth can be considered a satellite, as it is orbiting either the Earth or the Sun. Even though a space probe is going "out" from the Earth to Jupiter, it is still in orbit around the Sun, so it is still a satellite. It is certainly possible to set up a satellite so that it has a circular orbit (a circle is just an ellipse whose foci coincide). Gravity can only pull in the direction toward the planet.