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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.

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.

1 mark

(ii) Explain why Mars is in this position.

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.

1 mark

(ii) Explain why Venus is in this position.

1 mark

Maximum 5 marks