Notice that the average cord length of a circle is 4r/pi so that should be the expected distance to an independently orbiting planet at the same distance from the sun. The limiting case of planet orbiting at the sun would be average distance r, smaller than 4r/pi. So something strange would have to happen in between for smallest orbit not to be the closest on average.
Notice that the average cord length of a circle is 4r/pi so that should be the expected distance to an independently orbiting planet at the same distance from the sun. The limiting case of planet orbiting at the sun would be average distance r, smaller than 4r/pi. So something strange would have to happen in between for smallest orbit not to be the closest on average.