SOLAR SYSTEM

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UNIVERSE

SATELLITESICY BODIES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
As a comet orbits the Sun the distance between the comet and the Sun continually changes. As the comet moves towards the Sun this distance reaches a minimum value. Which one of the following statements is incorrect as the comet approaches this minimum distance?
A
The potential energy of the comet increases.
B
The gravitational force acting on the comet increases.
C
The direction of the gravitational force acting on the comet changes.
D
The kinetic energy of the comet increases.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -When a comet’s orbit brings it close to the Sun, it heats up and spews dust and gases into a giant glowing head larger than most planets. The dust and gases form a tail that stretches away from the Sun for millions of miles.

Detailed explanation-2: -The total energy will be negative if the comet is bound to the sun, i.e., if it has an elliptical orbit and not a hyperbolic one; the total energy will be positive if the comet is unbound and has a hyperbolic orbit about the sun.

Detailed explanation-3: -A comet while going on an elliptical orbit around the Sun has constant angular momentum due to no external torque and total energy due to Law of conservation of energy at all locations but other quantities vary with locations.

Detailed explanation-4: -When a comet is in our solar system, most of the gravity affecting the comet’s motion is due to the Sun. As a comet gets closer to the Sun it moves faster and faster, because the closer an object is to the Sun the stronger the Sun’s gravity acts on it.

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