Astronomers measured the orbital period (in days) of four exoplanets around their host stars: Planet K, 3.5 days; Planet L, 12.6 days; Planet M, 88.2 days; Planet N, 365.0 days. The astronomers concluded that the four planets occupy orbits at very different distances from their stars. To support this, they cited ______
Which choice most logically completes the text using the data above?
- A
Planet L's period of 12.6 days.
- B
Planet K's period of 3.5 days.
- C
Planet M's period of 88.2 days.
- Dcheck_circle
the spread of orbital periods, ranging more than 100-fold from Planet K (3.5 days) to Planet N (365 days).
Explanation
"Very different distances" is supported by the wide range of orbital periods. Choice B captures this 100-fold spread, the strongest evidence for the claim.