. A line between a planet and the sun sweeps out two equal areas at different places as it moves along its orbit. Which factor remains constant as this happens?
*
1 point
the time the planet takes to sweep out the areas
the distance from the sun to the planet while it sweeps out the areas
the planet’s speed as it sweeps out the areas
the energy required to sweep out the areas
The correct answer is:
-the planet’s speed as it sweeps out the areas
The correct answer is "the planet's speed as it sweeps out the areas."
To determine which factor remains constant as a planet sweeps out two equal areas at different places along its orbit, we need to apply Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion.
Kepler's Second Law states that a line connecting a planet to the Sun will sweep out equal areas in equal amounts of time. This law implies that a planet moves faster when it is nearer the Sun (during perihelion) and slower when it is farther away (during aphelion) from the Sun.
Therefore, it can be concluded that the factor which remains constant as the planet sweeps out two equal areas at different places along its orbit is:
- The time the planet takes to sweep out the areas.
As the planet moves closer to the Sun, it experiences a shorter distance to travel and requires less time to sweep out an equal area. Conversely, as it moves farther away from the Sun, it travels a longer distance and takes more time to sweep out the same area.
Therefore, the other options mentioned in the question - the distance from the Sun to the planet while it sweeps out the areas, the planet's speed as it sweeps out the areas, and the energy required to sweep out the areas - are not constant and vary depending on the planet's position along its orbit.