Question

question 10 of 20 : select the best answer for the question. 10. suppose scientists believe that theyve discovered a new planet. which of the following must be true for the object theyve found to qualify as a planet? a. it must be capable of supporting life. b. it must follow a closed orbit around a star. c. it must be shaped like an ellipsis. d. it must have minimal gravity forces. mark for review (will be highlighted on the review page) << previous question next question >>

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option based on the definition of a planet:

• Option A: Not all planets can support life (e.g., gas giants like Jupiter), so this is incorrect.
• Option B: A planet must orbit a star (or stellar remnant) in a closed orbit. This is a key criterion for a planet.
• Option C: Planets are approximately spherical due to hydrostatic equilibrium, not necessarily elliptical in shape (orbits can be elliptical, but the planet's shape is spherical), so this is incorrect.
• Option D: Planets have significant gravity to maintain their shape and clear their orbit, so "minimal gravity forces" is incorrect.

Answer:

B. It must follow a closed orbit around a star.