Questions: In our Solar System, an object is called a planet if A It orbits the Sun B It has the round shape (C) It has cleared its neighborhood (D) All of the above

Solution Steps

To determine the correct answer, we need to understand the criteria that define a planet in our Solar System. According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), an object is classified as a planet if it meets the following three criteria:

1. It orbits the Sun.
2. It has sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape (hydrostatic equilibrium).
3. It has cleared its orbit of other debris.

Let's analyze each option based on the IAU definition:

• Option A: "It orbits the Sun" - This is one of the criteria for being a planet.
• Option B: "It has the round shape" - This corresponds to the requirement of having sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape.
• Option C: "It has cleared its neighborhood" - This is the third criterion for being a planet.
• Option D: "All of the above" - This option suggests that all the criteria are necessary for an object to be classified as a planet.

Since all three criteria (A, B, and C) are required for an object to be classified as a planet, the correct answer is the option that includes all of them.

Final Answer