The total mass of all the planets is much less than the mass of the Sun. (T/F)
The correct answer and explanation is :
True: The total mass of all the planets in the solar system is much less than the mass of the Sun.
The Sun is by far the most massive object in the solar system. Its mass constitutes approximately 99.86% of the total mass of the entire solar system. In contrast, the combined mass of all the planets, their moons, and other objects in the solar system makes up only about 0.14% of the total mass.
The Sun’s mass is approximately 1.989 × 10^30 kilograms, while the mass of all the planets combined is around 4.37 × 10^24 kilograms. This shows that the Sun is vastly more massive than all of the planets put together.
Breaking it down, the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, is the most massive planet, but even it is only about 0.1% of the Sun’s mass. Jupiter has a mass of 1.90 × 10^27 kilograms, which is large compared to the other planets, but still far less than the Sun’s mass. The other planets, such as Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, are much smaller in mass than Jupiter, and the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) contribute even less.
The Sun’s immense mass plays a critical role in the solar system. Its gravitational pull is responsible for maintaining the orbits of the planets, moons, and other objects. This central position allows the Sun to act as the gravitational anchor that holds the entire solar system together. The overwhelming mass of the Sun means that it is the dominant force in the solar system, and this imbalance in mass helps explain why the planets and other objects revolve around the Sun rather than vice versa.
In conclusion, while the planets in the solar system are significant in terms of size and diversity, their collective mass is still negligible compared to the Sun’s.