Question

Which of the following is true about a planet orbiting a star in uniform circular motion

Answer 1

C

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

C) The velocity of the planet is always changing

Explanation:

• When a planet is in a uniform circular motion, it is always at the same distance from the sun.
• The gravitational force between the sun and the planet provides the necessary energy to keep the planet in the orbit.
• This gravitational force is responsible for the centripetal force on the planet.
• But the tangential velocity changes its direction in each moment of time due to the centripetal acceleration.
• The speed of the planet around the circular orbit remains the same. But the velocity component varies at each point because it is a vector that has a direction.
• However, the angular velocity of the planet remains the same which is a vector.