What happens to a planet's orbital speed as it gets closer to the Sun?

As a planet gets closer to the Sun, its orbital speed increases due to the gravitational pull exerted by the Sun. This phenomenon is described by Kepler's laws of planetary motion, specifically the second law, which states that a line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time. As a planet approaches the Sun, the gravitational attraction becomes stronger, causing the planet to move faster in its orbit to maintain the balance between this gravitational pull and its inertia.

To illustrate further, consider that when a planet is at perihelion – the closest point in its orbit to the Sun – it is moving at its maximum speed. Conversely, when it is at aphelion, the farthest point from the Sun, it moves more slowly. This consistent variation in speed based on distance from the Sun exemplifies the planet's adjustment to the changing gravitational forces experienced in its elliptical orbit.