The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) space probe was designed atmosphere of Mars. It was launched from Earth in 2013. The diagram below shows the orbit of both the MAVEN space probe and the moon Phobos around Mars.

Question

2
MAVEN
Phobos
3
4
Image courteay of NASA
The image shown is not to scale. Which of the following best describes both Phobos and MAVEN?
A. Phobos experiences gravity, but MAVEN does not.
B. Their orbital path and speed both depend on Mars' gravity.
C. Their orbital path and speed both depend on Mars' rotation.
D. Phobos and MAVEN both pull on Mars with the same amount of gravity.

Answer 1

The best option that describes both Phobos and MAVEN is:

B. Their orbital path and speed both depend on Mars' gravity.

Both Phobos, as a moon orbiting Mars, and MAVEN, as a spacecraft designed to study Mars, are influenced by the gravitational pull of Mars. While Phobos is a natural satellite, MAVEN is in a controlled orbit around the planet, and both their movements are governed by the same gravitational force exerted by Mars.