Which statement is NOT a feature of the Solar System?

Which statement is NOT a feature of the Solar System?

• A. All the orbits of the planets are circular
• B. The asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter
• C. Venus has the highest surface temperature among terrestrial planets
• D. The Sun is the largest object in the Solar System

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that planet orbits are not perfect circles. According to Kepler’s first law, planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one focus, so their paths are oval-shaped and their speeds change as they travel. Even though these orbits look nearly round from far away, none are exact circles. That’s why the statement that all planetary orbits are circular isn’t a feature of the Solar System. The other statements are correct: the asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter; Venus has the hottest surface among the terrestrial planets due to its thick greenhouse-effect atmosphere; and the Sun is the largest object by mass in the Solar System.

The main idea here is that planet orbits are not perfect circles. According to Kepler’s first law, planets move in ellipses with the Sun at one focus, so their paths are oval-shaped and their speeds change as they travel. Even though these orbits look nearly round from far away, none are exact circles. That’s why the statement that all planetary orbits are circular isn’t a feature of the Solar System. The other statements are correct: the asteroid belt lies between Mars and Jupiter; Venus has the hottest surface among the terrestrial planets due to its thick greenhouse-effect atmosphere; and the Sun is the largest object by mass in the Solar System.