Which planetary orbit might a typical Red Giant, like the future Sun, expand to encompass?

Answer

The orbit of Mercury or Mars.

When a main-sequence star like the Sun exhausts its core hydrogen, it swells dramatically, becoming a red giant. The physical scale of this expansion is substantial, but finite compared to its supergiant cousins. The text specifies that a typical red giant phase expansion might result in the star's outer edge reaching approximately the orbital paths of Mercury or Mars. This expansion is driven by the sudden, intense energy release from hydrogen fusion occurring in a shell immediately surrounding the contracting core. While this represents a massive increase in volume compared to its main-sequence size, it is relatively contained compared to the extent reached by red supergiants.

Which planetary orbit might a typical Red Giant, like the future Sun, expand to encompass?

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