According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

A) at opposition, when the Earth overtakes Mars and passes between Mars and the Sun.

B) at quadrature, when Mars lies exactly 90 degrees east or west of the Sun.

C) at superior conjunction, when Mars lies on the far side of the Sun.

D) at greatest elongation, when Mars can get up to 47 degrees from the Sun.

E) at inferior conjunction, when Mars laps the Earth and passes between us and the Sun.

Question

Samantha Ferguson

Physics

2 June, 08:54

According to Copernicus, the retrograde motion for Mars must occur

A) at opposition, when the Earth overtakes Mars and passes between Mars and the Sun.

B) at quadrature, when Mars lies exactly 90 degrees east or west of the Sun.

C) at superior conjunction, when Mars lies on the far side of the Sun.

D) at greatest elongation, when Mars can get up to 47 degrees from the Sun.

E) at inferior conjunction, when Mars laps the Earth and passes between us and the Sun.

+3

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Delaney Lucero · Answer 1

A

Explanation:

Retrograde motion for the Mars must occur at opposition, when the Earth overtakes Mars and passes between Mars and the Sun.

Hence the correct answer is A.

Earth came up from behind about every 26 months, and overcomes Mars ... This perceived erratic motion is called "retrograde motion." The illusion also occurs with Jupiter and the other planets which orbit further away from the sun