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Q32 (CDS-I/2019) Science & Technology › Space & Defence Technology › Space astronomy missions Answer Verified

Which of the following planets of our solar system has least mass?

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: D
Explanation

Mercury is the least massive planet in our solar system. According to standard astrophysical measurements, the planets ordered by increasing mass are Mercury, Mars, Venus, Earth, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Jupiter. Mercury's mass is approximately 3.3 x 10^23 kg, which is only about 0.055 times that of Earth [2]. While Mars is the second smallest planet, it is still significantly more massive than Mercury. The outer planets, including Neptune and Jupiter, are gas and ice giants that collectively make up 99% of the mass orbiting the Sun, with Jupiter being the most massive [1]. Following the 2006 IAU redefinition of a planet, which reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, Mercury officially holds the status of both the smallest and least massive planet in the solar system [2].

Sources

  1. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 2: The Solar System > Kuiper Belt, Pluto, and Charon > p. 33
  2. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 2: The Solar System > Outer Planets > p. 31
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