Why does the speed of a planet decrease as it moves away from the sun?(1 point)

Question

Responses

The sun’s gravitational pull on the sun decreases.
The sun’s gravitational pull on the sun decreases.

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 planet’s inertia begins to point backward along its orbit.
The planet’s inertia begins to point backward along its orbit.

The planet’s inertia begins to point inward toward the sun.

Answer 1

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 decreases, but more importantly, the direction of that pull relative to the planet's velocity changes. This affects the planet's orbital speed, resulting in a decrease as it moves further from the sun.