Which of these describe the speed of a moon as it draws closer to the planet it orbits?(1 point)
Responses
The speed of the moon remains constant.
The speed of the moon decreases.
The speed of the moon increases.
The speed of the moon creates an elliptical pattern.
The speed of the moon increases.
The speed of the moon as it draws closer to the planet it orbits increases.
To determine the speed of a moon as it draws closer to the planet it orbits, we need to understand some basic concepts of orbital motion. The speed of a moon can be described by its orbital velocity, which is the velocity at which it revolves around the planet.
As a moon moves closer to the planet it orbits, its distance from the planet decreases. According to Kepler's laws of planetary motion, the Law of Equal Areas states that a line connecting a planet to its moon sweeps out equal areas in equal times. This means that as the moon gets closer to the planet, it covers a smaller area in the same amount of time.
Since the area covered by the moon in a given time decreases as it approaches the planet, its speed must increase to maintain the balance. This is known as the conservation of angular momentum. As the moon's distance decreases, its speed increases to compensate for the decreased area, ensuring that the angular momentum remains constant.
Therefore, the correct answer is: The speed of the moon increases.