Responses
The planet’s inertia begins to point inward toward the sun.
The planet’s inertia begins to point inward toward the sun.
The direction of the sun’s pull relative to the planet’s motion changes.
The direction of the sun’s pull relative to the planet’s motion changes.
The sun’s gravitational pull on the sun decreases.
The sun’s gravitational pull on the sun decreases.
The planet’s inertia begins to point backward along its orbit.
The planet’s inertia begins to point backward along its orbit.
1 answer
The correct response is:
The direction of the sun’s pull relative to the planet’s motion changes.
As a planet moves away from the sun, the gravitational pull from the sun does indeed influence the planet's velocity. At greater distances, the gravitational pull becomes weaker, and the direction of this pull relative to the planet’s orbital motion changes, which can affect its speed.
