Which of the following objects has an orbit matching the following description: the eccentricity of the object is greater than one, so the object takes a hyperbolic pathway around the sun. The Earth, mercury, a comet, or Pluto.

Answer 1

The object that has an orbit with an eccentricity greater than one, which indicates a hyperbolic pathway around the sun, is a comet.

While Earth and Mercury have orbits with eccentricities less than one (meaning they are elliptical), and Pluto has an eccentricity slightly greater than zero but less than one (making it also elliptical), comets can have highly elliptical or even hyperbolic orbits depending on their trajectory. Hyperbolic orbits typically occur when comets are on a trajectory that brings them close to the sun before being ejected from the solar system or returning only once.

So, the correct answer is a comet.