based on Kepler's observations about planetary motion, what is the relationship between a planet's orbit velocity and its distance from the sun?

the greater the distance, the slower orbital velocity
distance has no effect on orbital velocity
the greater the distance, the greater the orbital velocity
as distance is cut in half, orbital velocity decreases

1 answer

The correct answer is "the greater the distance, the slower the orbital velocity." According to Kepler's laws of planetary motion, a planet's orbital velocity decreases as its distance from the sun increases. This relationship is specifically defined by Kepler's second law, which states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times, implying that a planet will move slower when it is farther away from the sun.