Kepler's laws: Because the earth's orbit is slightly elliptical, the earth actually gets closer to the sun during part of the year. When the earth is closer to the sun its orbital speed is
A) less than when the earth is farthest away from the sun.
B) the same as when the earth is farthest away from the sun.
C) greater than when the earth is farthest away from the sun.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to Kepler's second law, a planet in orbit around the sun will move faster when it is closer to the sun and slower when it is farther away. This means that the closer the earth is to the sun, the faster its orbital speed will be. Therefore, the correct choice is C) greater than when the earth is farthest away from the sun.

Kepler's Laws: Because the Earth's Orbit Is Slightly Elliptical, the Earth