Question

In 3–5 sentences, explain how the shape of planetary orbits affects their orbital velocity. Include the proper law of planetary motion as part of your answer.(4 points)

Answer 1

The shape of a planetary orbit affects its orbital velocity due to Kepler's second law of planetary motion, also known as the law of equal areas. According to this law, a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times when it orbits around the sun. In elliptical orbits, planets move at varying speeds depending on their distance from the sun. When a planet is closer to the sun, it experiences a stronger gravitational force and thus moves faster, while when it is farther away, it moves slower due to a weaker gravitational force. This means that planets have higher orbital velocities when they are closer to the sun and lower orbital velocities when they are farther away.