Physics – 6.1.2 The Solar System | e-Consult

Answer: The data suggests an inverse relationship between orbital distance and surface temperature. As the orbital distance from the planet increases, the surface temperature decreases. This is because the gravitational pull is weaker at greater distances, resulting in less energy being absorbed from the planet.

Assumptions:

• The planet Xylos is roughly spherical.
• The planet's energy output is relatively constant.
• The planet's albedo (reflectivity) is constant.
• The probe is in a stable orbit and the orbital period is accurately measured.

Explanation: The temperature of a planet is influenced by the amount of energy it receives from its star. The amount of energy received depends on the distance from the star, which is related to the orbital distance. A smaller orbital distance means more energy received, leading to a higher surface temperature. The provided data, with increasing orbital distance and decreasing temperature, supports this relationship. The constant mass of the planet indicates that the energy output is not the primary factor influencing the temperature change in this scenario.