Question

december 2, 2025
planet | distance from sun (million km) | time to orbit sun (in earth days) | diameter (km) | average surface temperature (°c)
mercury | 58 | 88.00 | 4,879 | 167
venus | 108 | 224.70 | 12,104 | 464
earth | 150 | 365.24 | 12,756 | 15
mars | 228 | 687.00 | 6,792 | -65
analyze the properties and choose the statement that correctly identifies patterns between the planets closest to the sun.
a. mercury’s surface temperature is colder than the earth’s.
b. the planets increase in diameter as they get farther away from the sun.
c. the length of time to orbit the sun increases as the distance from the sun increases.
d. the planets all have diameters greater than 5,000 km.

Explanation:

• For option a: Mercury's temp (167°C) is hotter than Earth's (15°C), so a is wrong.
• For option b: Mars is farther than Earth but has smaller diameter (6,792 km vs Earth's 12,756 km), so b is wrong.
• For option c: As distance from Sun increases (Mercury:58, Venus:108, Earth:150, Mars:228), orbital time increases (88, 224.70, 365.24, 687), so c is correct.
• For option d: Mercury's diameter is 4,879 km < 5,000 km, so d is wrong.

Answer:

c. The length of time to orbit the Sun increases as the distance from the Sun increases.