Select the correct answer from the list.(1 point)
As a planet draws away from the sun in its orbit, the force between the sun and the planet______and the planet's speed_____
As a planet draws away from the sun in its orbit, the force between the sun and the planet decreases and the planet's speed decreases.
As a planet draws away from the sun in its orbit, the force between the sun and the planet decreases, and the planet's speed decreases.
To determine the correct answer, we need to consider the relationship between the force between the sun and the planet, and the planet's speed as it moves away from the sun in its orbit.
According to Kepler's second law, the law of equal areas, as a planet moves in its orbit, it sweeps out equal areas in equal times. This implies that a planet moves faster when it is closer to the sun and slower when it is farther away.
Based on this information, we can deduce the following:
1. As the planet draws away from the sun in its orbit, the force between the sun and the planet:
- Decreases. The force of gravity between two objects is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. As the planet moves away from the sun, the distance between them increases, resulting in a decrease in the force between them.
2. The planet's speed:
- Decreases. As the planet moves away from the sun, the gravitational force acting on it decreases. According to Newton's second law of motion, the acceleration experienced by the planet is directly proportional to the force acting on it. Therefore, as the force decreases, the acceleration (and hence, the speed) of the planet decreases as well.
Thus, the correct answer would be:
- The force between the sun and the planet decreases, and the planet's speed decreases.