Which statement best describes the relationship between distance from the Sun and orbital speed according to Kepler?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes the relationship between distance from the Sun and orbital speed according to Kepler?

Explanation:
In a Keplerian orbit, orbital speed changes with distance from the Sun. Gravity is stronger closer in, so the body accelerates to a higher speed; farther out, the pull is weaker and the speed drops. Kepler’s second law makes this intuitive: equal areas in equal times mean the object moves faster near perihelion and slower near aphelion. The vis-viva equation, v^2 = μ(2/r − 1/a), ties this together mathematically for a bound orbit, showing that as distance r increases (for a given ellipse), speed decreases. So the speed decreases with distance from the Sun.

In a Keplerian orbit, orbital speed changes with distance from the Sun. Gravity is stronger closer in, so the body accelerates to a higher speed; farther out, the pull is weaker and the speed drops. Kepler’s second law makes this intuitive: equal areas in equal times mean the object moves faster near perihelion and slower near aphelion. The vis-viva equation, v^2 = μ(2/r − 1/a), ties this together mathematically for a bound orbit, showing that as distance r increases (for a given ellipse), speed decreases. So the speed decreases with distance from the Sun.

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