The Mercury is part of World and Physical Geography. Below are notes on 2 sub-topics, followed by practice MCQs from State PSC and UPSC papers.

Orbital parameters: Period, eccentricity, inclination

  • Mercury: Innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System.
  • Distance from Sun: Approximately 57.9 million km (5.8 crore km) on average.
  • Orbital Period (Sidereal Period): Completes one orbit around the Sun in about 88 Earth days.
  • Orbital Eccentricity: Has the most eccentric orbit of all planets (e ≈ 0.2056), meaning its distance from the Sun varies significantly (perihelion ~46 million km, aphelion ~70 million km).
  • Orbital Inclination: Orbit is inclined by approximately 7.0 degrees relative to the Ecliptic plane (Earth's orbital plane).

Surface composition and mineralogy

  • Planet Mercury's crust is primarily composed of silicates, including magnesium-rich miner‐

6. The Venus

Practice MCQs: The Mercury

Orbital parameters: Period, eccentricity, inclination

  1. planet in solar system found ______ k.m. from sun and takes 88 days to complete one rotation around sun.

    Asked in: MPSC CS Prelims 2021

    1. Venus, 8.8 crore
    2. Mercury, 5.8 crore
    3. Mars, 2.8 crore
    4. Saturn, 5.2 crore
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Mercury, 5.8 crore

    - Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. Its average distance from the Sun is about 57.9 million kilometers, which is approximately 5.8 crore km. - Mercury has the shortest orbital period of all the planets, taking only about 88 Earth days to complete one revolution around the Sun. - The other options list incorrect planets or distances/periods: Venus is ~108 million km, 225 days; Mars is ~228 million km, 687 days; Saturn is ~1.4 billion km, ~29.5 years.

Surface composition and mineralogy

  1. The largest producer of mercury is

    Asked in: Asstt. System Manager 2021

    1. USA
    2. China
    3. Italy
    4. Spain
    Show answer

    Answer: B. China

    China is the leading global producer of mercury.