Suppose scientists believe that they've discovered a new planet. Which of the following must be true for the object they've found to qualify as a planet?

Question

Question 11 options:

A)

It must be capable of supporting life.

B)

It must have minimal gravity forces.

C)

It must be shaped like an ellipsis.

D)

It must follow a closed orbit around a star.

Answer 1

For an object to qualify as a planet, the most relevant criteria from the provided options is:

D) It must follow a closed orbit around a star.

In the context of the current astronomical definitions, specifically those set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a celestial body must orbit a star, and there are additional criteria that include being large enough to be round in shape (which relates to gravity but does not require minimal gravity), but it does not have to support life or be specifically shaped like an ellipse. Therefore, option D is the correct choice.