To determine whether the combined distance of Mercury, Venus, and Earth from the sun is greater or less than the distance from the sun to Neptune, we need to calculate the distances for each scenario.
The average distance from the sun to Mercury is approximately 57.9 million kilometers (35.98 million miles).
The average distance from the sun to Venus is approximately 108.2 million kilometers (67.24 million miles).
The average distance from the sun to Earth is approximately 149.6 million kilometers (92.96 million miles).
To calculate the combined distance of Mercury, Venus, and Earth from the sun:
57.9 million km + 108.2 million km + 149.6 million km = 315.7 million kilometers (196.17 million miles)
The average distance from the sun to Neptune is approximately 4.5 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles).
Comparing the two distances:
315.7 million km < 4.5 billion km
Therefore, the combined distance of Mercury, Venus, and Earth from the sun is significantly less than the distance from the sun to Neptune.
Mercury, Venus, and Earth are the three planets closest to the sun. Would their combined
distance from the sun be greater or less than the distance from the sun to Neptune? Show
your work and justify your answer.
1 answer
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