Which of the following rocky planets is the fastest planet in our solar system – traveling through space at about 29 miles (47 kilometres) per second?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is option 4 i.e. Mercury.
The fastest planet in our solar system, traveling at about 29 miles (47 kilometers) per second, is Mercury,
- Orbital Speed: Mercury, being the closest planet to the Sun, has the shortest orbital path and therefore travels at the highest orbital speed.
- Orbital Period: Mercury completes one orbit around the Sun in just 88 Earth days, which is the shortest orbital period of any planet in our solar system.
- Speed: Mercury's average orbital speed is about 47.87 km/s (29.7 miles per second)