Answer to Question #172946 in Physics for kmy

Question

Comets have very elongated elliptical orbits with the sun at one focus. Using Kepler's Law, explain why a comet travels much faster near the sun than it does at the other end of the orbit.

Answer 1

The second Kepler's law states that a line joining a comet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time. Therefore, the comet travels much faster near the sun than it does at the other end of the orbit because the comet sweeps out equal areas in equal times.