In Sun-Earth system, the Sun, the Earth and the Lagrange point L4 form

In Sun-Earth system, the Sun, the Earth and the Lagrange point L4 form :

[amp_mcq option1=”an isosceles triangle” option2=”an equilateral triangle” option3=”a straight line” option4=”a scalene triangle” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-2 – 2024

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In the Sun-Earth system, the Sun, the Earth, and the Lagrange point L4 form an equilateral triangle.

– Lagrange points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, like the Sun and Earth, balance the centrifugal force on a smaller object, allowing the smaller object to remain in a stable position relative to the two large bodies.
– There are five such points (L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5).
– Points L4 and L5 are located 60 degrees ahead of and behind the smaller body (Earth in this case) in its orbit around the larger body (Sun), respectively.
– The distances from L4 (or L5) to the Sun and to the Earth are equal to the distance between the Sun and the Earth.
– This geometric arrangement forms an equilateral triangle with the two large bodies at two vertices and L4 (or L5) at the third vertex.

The L1, L2, and L3 points lie along the line connecting the two large bodies and are points of unstable equilibrium in practice, requiring station-keeping maneuvers. The L4 and L5 points are points of stable equilibrium for small objects orbiting within the system. Asteroids known as Trojans can be found orbiting in the vicinity of the L4 and L5 points of planet-Sun systems.

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