Understanding Orbits and Barycenters

Why does a less massive body orbit a more massive one?

• Because the more massive body has more gravity

• Because they are the same mass

• Because they are the same size

• Because the less massive body has more gravity

What is a barycenter?

• The center of mass around which two or more bodies orbit

• The point where two bodies collide

• The center of a single body

• The point where gravity is weakest

In the Earth-Moon system, where is the barycenter located?

• At the center of the Earth

• At the center of the Moon

• Within the Earth's radius

• Outside the Earth's radius

How does the barycenter affect the Sun-Jupiter system?

• It makes Jupiter orbit the Sun in a perfect circle

• It causes the Sun to wobble slightly

• It has no effect on their orbits

• It makes the Sun orbit Jupiter

What is more accurate to say about the solar system's orbits?

• The Sun orbits the planets

• The planets orbit each other

• Planets orbit the Sun

• The Sun and planets orbit the solar system's barycenter