Question

The angular velocity of a planet revolving in an elliptical orbit around the sun increases, when it comes closer to the sun. This is due to ______________

(a) Conservation of momentum

(b) Newton’s second law of motion

(c) Conservation of angular momentum

(d) Law of angular velocity

Answer 1

Correct choice is (c) Conservation of angular momentum

Best explanation: The angular velocity of a planet revolving in an elliptic orbit around the sun increases when it comes closer to the sun increases when it comes closer to the sun because its moment of inertia about the axis through the sun decreases. When it goes far away from the sun, its moment of inertia decreases so as to conserve angular momentum.