Question

The plane, in which the Earth revolves around the Sun, is called the __________ plane of the Sun.
A) Equatorial
B) Tangential
C) Normal
D) Orbital

Answer 1

Hint: This question can be easily answered if we know about the planes given in the options. So, we need to have an idea about the different types of planes. Then only, we can conclude with the correct choice of the given question.

Complete answer:
Let us find out about the planes given in the options.
Equatorial plane: It is defined as the plane passing through the equator of the earth, or of any other celestial body, which is perpendicular to its axis of rotation and equidistant from its poles.
Tangential plane: It is defined as the plane that touches the surface at a point and is parallel to the surface at that point.
Normal plane: It is defined as the plane containing the normal vector of a surface at a particular point.
Orbital plane: It is defined as a flat disk shaped space that connects the centre of the object being orbited with the centre of the orbiting objects. It is also known as an ecliptic plane.
As we can see from the step one that in the orbital planes the Earth revolves.
Therefore, we can conclude that the earth revolves in the orbital plane.

Hence, option (D), i.e. orbital is the correct choice of the given question.

Note: We should know that the orientation of Earth’s axis and equator is not fixed in space but it rotates about the poles of the ecliptic. Also the orbital plane is parallel to the orbit of the Earth. We define revolution as the action of moving around a body in a circular path.