Two objects are in circular orbits of different radii around the Sun.Which object has the highest orbital speed?
A)The one closest to the Sun.
B)The one farthest from the Sun.
C)Once in orbit around the Sun,all objects have the same orbital speed regardless of distance from the Sun.It is the greater radius and greater resulting circumference that causes the object farther from the Sun to take longer to complete an orbit.
D)This cannot be found without knowing the relative masses of the objects.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The object closest to the Sun has the highest orbital speed because it has a shorter distance to travel in the same amount of time as the object farther from the Sun. This is due to the conservation of angular momentum.

Two Objects Are in Circular Orbits of Different Radii Around