The nearly circular orbits of planets in our solar system led scientis

Question

The nearly circular orbits of planets in our solar system led scientists to expect that planets around other stars would also reside in circular orbits. However, most known extrasolar planets reside in highly elongated, not circular, orbits. Why? The best clue comes from comets in our solar system. Comets formed in circular orbits but were gravitationally flung into their present-day elliptical orbits when they ventured too close to planets. Astronomers suspect that pairs of planets also engage in this  slingshot activity , leaving them in disturbed, elliptical orbits. If two planets form in close orbits, one will be scattered inward (toward its star), the other outward. They will likely then travel close enough to neighboring planets to disturb their orbits also.    1 
 1. According to the passage, which of the following factors help account for the elliptical shape of the orbits of extrasolar planets?

I. The planets’ formation in close proximity to other planets
II. The gravitational influence of planets whose original orbits have been disturbed
III. The gravitational influence of comets

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

2 
 2. The passage suggests that two planets formed in close orbits that engaged in “slingshot activity” ( Highlighted ) would be likely to

I. deflect away from each other
II. change the shape of each other’s orbit
III. affect the orbits of any neighboring planets

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. The passage suggests that two planets formed in close orbits that engaged in “slingshot activity” (Highlighted) would be likely to

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

Relevant part of the passage:

Astronomers suspect that pairs of planets also engage in this slingshot activity, leaving them in disturbed, elliptical orbits. If two planets form in close orbits, one will be scattered inward (toward its star), the other outward. They will likely then travel close enough to neighboring planets to disturb their orbits also.

Choice I: deflect away from each other

If two planets form in close orbits, one will be scattered inward (toward its star), the other outward

Choice II: change the shape of each other's orbit

Leaving them in disturbed, elliptical orbits

Choice III: affect the orbits of any neighboring planets

They will likely then travel close enough to neighboring planets to disturb their orbits also

Answer: E

pintukr · Answer

1. According to the passage, which of the following factors help account for the elliptical shape of the orbits of extrasolar planets?

I. The planets’ formation in close proximity to other planets
II. The gravitational influence of planets whose original orbits have been disturbed
III. The gravitational influence of comets

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

Reference from Passage.  Lines 9-12 mention that elliptical shaped orbits resulted from 'slingshot activity' ie, gravitationally flung into such orbits (proof for prompt I). Also, the elliptical orbits for certain planets result consequent to certain planets travelling close to the planets whose original orbits have been disturbed. (proof for prompt II)

(B) is the CORRECT answer

pintukr · Answer

2. The passage suggests that two planets formed in close orbits that engaged in “slingshot activity” (Highlighted) would be likely to

I. deflect away from each other
II. change the shape of each other’s orbit
III. affect the orbits of any neighboring planets

A. I only
B. I and II only
C. I and III only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

Reference from Passage.  Lines 6-12 mentions all the following aspects :-

'slingshot activity' refers to the phenomenon of one scattering inward, while the other outward. ie, deflecting away from each other. (prompt I)

also, the pair of affected planets during this phenomenon change the shape of each other's orbit leading to disturbed, elliptical orbits. (prompt II)

Such planets will disturbed orbits also affect the orbits of any neighboring planets (as mentioned in the last line of the passage). (prompt III)

So, (E) will be the CORRECT answer

Anubhav4832 · Answer

Kindly post explanation for 1

The nearly circular orbits of planets in our solar system led scientis

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GMAT Reading Comprehension (RC) Questions

The nearly circular orbits of planets in our solar system led scientis

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards