Which of the following best describes the Goldilocks Zone?

  1. A region in the solar system beyond Neptune, populated by icy bodies and dwarf planets like Pluto.
  2. A region around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface.
  3. A point in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies balance the centripetal force felt by a smaller object.
  4. A spherical shell of icy objects surrounding the solar system at a distance of about 2,000 to 200,000 AU.

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 2 : A region around a star where conditions are just right for liquid water to exist on a planet's surface.

Detailed Solution

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The correct answer is option 2

Key Points

  • The Goldilocks Zone (or habitable zone) is the area around a star where temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold, allowing liquid water to exist—a key ingredient for life as we know it.
  • A region in the solar system beyond Neptune, populated by icy bodies and dwarf planets like Pluto: This describes the Kuiper Belt.
  • A point in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies balance the centripetal force felt by a smaller object: This describes a Lagrange Point.
  • A spherical shell of icy objects surrounding the solar system at a distance of about 2,000 to 200,000 AU: This describes the Oort Cloud.
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