MCQ Detailed View

A year on a planet is defined as the time it takes for that planet to complete one full orbit around the Sun. The farther a planet is from the Sun, the longer its orbit and the slower it moves due to weaker gravitational pull. As a result, outer planets generally have longer years than inner planets.

Among the four given options, Mars has the longest year. Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, located farther away than Earth, Venus, and Mercury. It takes approximately 687 Earth days to complete one revolution around the Sun. This is almost 1.88 Earth years, meaning a Martian year is nearly twice as long as a year on Earth.

For comparison:

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  Mercury: Closest to the Sun, orbits in about 88 Earth days, making its year the shortest in the solar system.

  
  


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  Venus: Second planet from the Sun, takes around 225 Earth days per orbit.

  
  


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  Earth: Completes its orbit in 365 days, defining our standard year.

  
  


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  Mars: Farther out, requiring 687 days for a full orbit due to its larger, elongated path around the Sun.

  
  

Factors affecting orbital period include:

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  Distance from the Sun: Greater distance increases orbit size and time.

  
  


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  Orbital speed: Planets farther away move more slowly because of weaker gravitational forces.

  
  

Understanding planetary years helps astronomers study orbital mechanics, planetary climates, and seasonal variations on different worlds. Mars’ longer year leads to extended seasons, each lasting nearly twice as long as on Earth.The correct answer is Option C: Mars, because among the listed planets, Mars takes the longest time to complete a full orbit around the Sun, resulting in the longest year.