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According to Kepler's first law, the orbit of a planet is:
AA circle with the Sun at the centre
BA straight line passing through the Sun
CA parabola with the Sun at the vertex
DAn ellipse with the Sun at one focus
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. An ellipse with the Sun at one focus
1. Kepler studied the planetary position data collected by Tycho Brahe.
2. His first law states the orbit of a planet is an ellipse with the Sun at one of the foci.
3. The Sun is not at the centre, it sits at one focal point of the ellipse.
4. Hence the orbit is an ellipse with the Sun at one focus.
_Source: Balbharati (Maharashtra Board) Class 10 Science & Technology, Ch 1 "Gravitation", p.12_
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