Final answer:
The speed of the Earth, specifically its orbital speed around the Sun, increases due to the gravitational force between the Earth and the Sun, which causes the Earth to accelerate as it moves closer to the Sun in its orbit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The speed of the Earth, specifically its orbital speed around the Sun, makes sense due to the gravitational force between the Earth and the Sun. This force keeps the Earth in orbit around the Sun, causing it to constantly move in a curved path. As the Earth moves closer to the Sun in its orbit, the gravitational force increases, causing the Earth to accelerate and therefore increase its speed.
For example, as the Earth moves from its aphelion (farthest distance from the Sun) to its perihelion (closest distance to the Sun) in its elliptical orbit, it experiences a greater gravitational force and accelerates, resulting in an increase in its orbital speed. This increase in speed is a result of the conservation of angular momentum, which dictates that the speed of an object in orbit is determined by its distance from the object it is orbiting.
So, the speed of the Earth makes sense because it is a consequence of the gravitational force and the conservation of angular momentum in its orbit around the Sun.