Question

1. discuss with a partner, discuss how the gravitational force between the sun and comet changes the velocity, or speed and direction, of the comet at each position along its orbit.

Explanation:

Comets have highly elliptical orbits around the Sun. When the comet is far from the Sun, gravitational force is weak, so its speed is low, and the force gently curves its path toward the Sun. As it approaches the Sun (perihelion), gravitational force strengthens, accelerating the comet to its maximum speed; the force pulls it sharply, changing its direction to swing around the Sun. As the comet moves away from the Sun again, the gravitational force acts to slow it down, and continues altering its direction to follow the elongated orbit back outward, decreasing speed until it reaches the farthest point (aphelion) with minimum speed.

Answer:

1. Far from the Sun (aphelion region): Weak gravitational force results in low comet speed; the force gradually pulls the comet's path toward the Sun, slowly changing its direction.
2. Approaching the Sun: Gravitational force increases, accelerating the comet (speed rises) and curving its direction more sharply toward the Sun.
3. At perihelion (closest to Sun): Gravitational force is strongest, comet reaches maximum speed; the force rapidly changes the comet's direction to swing it around the Sun.
4. Moving away from the Sun: Gravitational force decelerates the comet (speed decreases) and continues altering its direction to follow the elliptical orbit outward, until it returns to the low-speed, distant orbit position.