Which of the following planets of our solar system has least mass?
Mercury
Finding the Planet with Least Mass in Our Solar System
The question asks us to identify which of the given planets in our solar system has the least mass. Mass is a fundamental property of a planet, representing the amount of matter it contains. To find the planet with the least mass, we need to compare the masses of the planets listed in the options.
The options provided are:
- Neptune
- Jupiter
- Mars
- Mercury
Let's look at the approximate masses of these planets. It's helpful to compare them, often using scientific notation to handle the large numbers involved. The standard unit for mass in physics is the kilogram (kg).
| Planet | Approximate Mass (kg) |
|---|---|
| Mercury | \(3.301 \times 10^{23}\) kg |
| Mars | \(6.417 \times 10^{23}\) kg |
| Neptune | \(1.024 \times 10^{26}\) kg |
| Jupiter | \(1.898 \times 10^{27}\) kg |
Now, let's compare the masses listed:
- Jupiter has a mass of approximately \(1.898 \times 10^{27}\) kg. This is a very large number, with the exponent \(27\) indicating its magnitude.
- Neptune has a mass of approximately \(1.024 \times 10^{26}\) kg. The exponent \(26\) is smaller than \(27\), so Neptune is less massive than Jupiter.
- Mars has a mass of approximately \(6.417 \times 10^{23}\) kg. The exponent \(23\) is much smaller than \(26\) or \(27\). So, Mars is much less massive than Neptune and Jupiter.
- Mercury has a mass of approximately \(3.301 \times 10^{23}\) kg. Like Mars, its mass has the exponent \(23\).
To compare Mars and Mercury, we look at the number before the exponent \(10^{23}\). For Mars, it's \(6.417\), and for Mercury, it's \(3.301\). Since \(3.301\) is smaller than \(6.417\), Mercury has less mass than Mars.
Comparing all four planets from the options, Mercury has the smallest mass among them:
\(3.301 \times 10^{23}\) kg (Mercury) < \(6.417 \times 10^{23}\) kg (Mars) < \(1.024 \times 10^{26}\) kg (Neptune) < \(1.898 \times 10^{27}\) kg (Jupiter)
Therefore, Mercury is the planet with the least mass among the given options.
The planet with the least mass in our solar system is Mercury.
Revision Table: Solar System Planet Masses
| Planet | Mass Relative to Earth | Approximate Mass (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 0.055 | \(3.301 \times 10^{23}\) |
| Venus | 0.815 | \(4.867 \times 10^{24}\) |
| Earth | 1.000 | \(5.972 \times 10^{24}\) |
| Mars | 0.107 | \(6.417 \times 10^{23}\) |
| Jupiter | 317.8 | \(1.898 \times 10^{27}\) |
| Saturn | 95.2 | \(5.683 \times 10^{26}\) |
| Uranus | 14.5 | \(8.681 \times 10^{25}\) |
| Neptune | 17.2 | \(1.024 \times 10^{26}\) |
This table shows the masses of all eight planets in our solar system, making it clear that Mercury has the smallest mass overall.
Additional Information: Planet Mass and Size
While mass tells us how much matter is in a planet, size (like radius or diameter) tells us how big it is physically. The smallest planet by diameter is also Mercury. However, mass and size don't always directly correlate in a simple way because density also plays a role. For example, Venus is slightly smaller than Earth but has a bit less mass. Jupiter is the most massive planet and also the largest.
Understanding the masses of planets helps scientists study their gravity, internal structure, and how they interact with other objects in the solar system.
Similar Questions
What is a constellation?
Venus, the first environmental research satellite, was launched in August 2017 by which one of the following countries?
The water frame’ of Richard Arkwright was a device for
The fact that the planets move around the sun, not in circles but in ellipses was first demonstrated by:
Among the currently operational Indian Satellites, there is no:
Which one among the following stars is nearest to the earth?
Which one of the following correctly describes the principle of the working of an atomic clock?
Which one of the following statements about the properties of neutrons is NOT correct?
Which one of the following pairs of events and years is not correctly matched?
Which one of the following statements with regard to Antrix Corporation Limited is correct?
Important Questions from Science Technology and Inventions
________ is the smallest unit of data in a computer.
Latent heat of vaporization of steam is ________.
_________ is an example of intrusive igneous rock.
The first satellite for serving the education sector is:
In physics, the particles called 'Higgs Boson' are also known as:
