Question

For a planet revolving around the sun, when it is nearest to the sun (K.E. - kinetic energy, P.E. - Potential energy)

• A. K.E. is minimum and P.E. is maximum.
• B. Both K.E. and P.E. are minimum
• C. K.E. is maximum. and P.E. is minimum
• D. K.E. and P.E. are equal

Answer 1

The correct option is C K.E. is maximum. and P.E. is minimum

The speed of a planet has its maximum value when the planet-sun distance has its minimum value. The speed has its minimum value when the planet-sun distance has its maximum value.
This can be derived from the second law of Kepler, which states, the straight line joining the Sun and a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal intervals of time.