Kepler's second law, which states that as a planet moves around its orbit it sweeps out equal areas in equal times, means that
A)planets have circular orbits.
B)the period of a planet does not depend on its mass.
C)a planet's period does not depend on the eccentricity of its orbit.
D)a planet travels faster when it is nearer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun.
E)planets that are farther from the Sun move at slower average speeds than nearer planets.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Kepler's second law relates to the speed of a planet as it moves around its orbit. The law states that a planet will move faster when it is closer to the Sun and slower when it is farther from the Sun. This means that the planet's speed is not constant throughout its orbit, but rather varies depending on its distance from the Sun. Therefore, option D is the correct answer.

Kepler's Second Law, Which States That as a Planet Moves