Questions on the Earth in Space
Q13.
The table shows the time taken for the Earth, Mars and Venus to orbit the Sun.
planet |
time taken to orbit the
Sun, in Earth years |
Earth |
1.0 |
Mars |
1.9 |
Venus |
0.6 |
The diagram shows the orbits of the Earth, Mars and Venus round the Sun, at one particular time. The arrows show the direction in which the planets move. The diagram is not to scale
At the time shown in the diagram, the three planets were lined up with the Sun.
(a) Show the position of the Earth three months after the planets were lined up, by marking a point on the Earth's orbit with a cross. Label the point E.
See diagram 
1 mark
(b)
(i) Show the approximate position of Mars three Earth months after the planets were lined up, by marking a point on Mars's orbit with another cross. Label the point M.
See diagram
1 mark
(ii) Explain why Mars is in this position.
Mars takes 1.9 years to complete a full orbit.
3 months is 0.25 years
0.25/1.9 = 0.13 - mars will therefore have completed 0.13 of its orbit in 3 months - (moved round about 46 degrees of its circular path)
1 mark
(c)
(i) Show the approximate position of Venus three Earth months after the planets were lined up, by marking a point on Venus's orbit with another cross. Label the point V.
See diagram
1 mark
(ii) Explain why Venus is in this position.
Venus takes 0.6 years to complete a full orbit.
3 months is 0.25 years
0.25/0.6 = 0.42 - mars will therefore have completed 0..42 of its orbit in 3 months - (moved round about 151 degrees of its circular path)
1 mark
Maximum 5 marks
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