How does it happen that Pluto is not the fa rthest planet of the solar system now?

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Submitted by examrobotsa on

Q: 12 (CDS-I/2004)
How does it happen that Pluto is not the fa rthest planet of the solar system now?

question_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

CDS-I

stats: 

0,30,22,8,10,4,30

keywords: 

{'plutos orbit': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'pluto': [1, 0, 0, 0], 'farthest planet': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'solar system': [1, 0, 2, 1], 'rthest planet': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'outer planets': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'planet': [4, 0, 1, 1], 'neptune': [2, 0, 1, 0], 'orbit': [0, 0, 1, 1], 'solar': [0, 0, 1, 3], 'sun': [3, 0, 0, 6], 'zodiac': [0, 0, 1, 0], 'eccentricity': [0, 0, 1, 0]}

The correct answer is option 4: "The eccentricity of Pluto`s orbit being substantial, this orbit cuts the orbit of Neptune."

Option 1 is incorrect because planets do not take turns being the farthest planet in the solar system. The order of the planets from the Sun is determined by their distance.

Option 2 is incorrect because Pluto is not always the farthest planet in the solar system.

Option 3 is incorrect because the position of the Sun in the zodiac does not determine the distance of the planets from the Sun.

Option 4 is correct because Pluto has an eccentric orbit, meaning that it is not perfectly circular, but rather elongated. Due to its eccentricity, at certain points in its orbit, Pluto comes closer to the Sun than Neptune. This means that Neptune is actually further from the Sun than Pluto during some parts of their orbits. Therefore, Pluto is not always the farthest planet in the solar system.

Alert - correct answer should be: "Pluto`s eccentric orbit brings it closer to the Sun than Neptune at certain points, causing it to not always be the farthest planet in the solar system."