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The orbital period of a planet refers to the time it takes to complete one full revolution around the Sun. Mercury, being the closest planet to the Sun, has the shortest orbital period in our Solar System, completing a full orbit in just 88 Earth days. This means that a single Mercury year is less than three months long compared to Earth's 365-day year.
Mercury orbits at an average distance of 57.9 million kilometers (36 million miles) from the Sun. Because it is so close, the Sun’s gravitational pull on Mercury is very strong, forcing it to move at an extremely high orbital speed of about 47.87 km/s. This speed is faster than any other planet in our Solar System, allowing Mercury to complete its revolution quickly despite its elliptical path.Let’s examine the options:
88 days: ✅ Correct. This is Mercury’s exact orbital period.
365 days: This is Earth’s orbital period.
2 years: Far too long for a planet so close to the Sun.
98 days: Close, but inaccurate; the correct value is 88 days.
None of these: Incorrect, since option A is right.
Due to its proximity to the Sun and short year, Mercury experiences extreme temperature fluctuations, and its days are much longer than its years—one Mercury day (rotation) lasts about 59 Earth days. The study of Mercury’s orbit helps scientists understand planetary motion, gravity, and solar system dynamics, making this an important everyday science concept.
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