Astronomy Practice Exam

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How many Earth days does it take Mars to complete one orbit around the sun?

The correct answer is: 687

Mars takes approximately 687 Earth days to complete one orbit around the sun. This longer orbital period is due to several factors, including Mars' greater distance from the sun compared to Earth. The planets closer to the sun, like Earth, move faster in their orbits due to the stronger gravitational pull they experience. In contrast, Mars, being further away, moves more slowly in its orbit since it has a larger path to cover and is less affected by the sun's gravity. This extended orbital duration is reflective of the general trend within the solar system, where planets further from the sun tend to have longer orbital periods. As a result, this makes Mars' year almost twice as long as an Earth year, which is a crucial detail for understanding the dynamics of planetary orbits in our solar system.