According to the Law of Universal Gravitation, two objects are attracted to each other. The greater the total mass of the two objects, the stronger the attraction, or gravitational force. The greater the distance between the objects, the weaker the gravitational force.

The orbital speed of a planet is a direct result of the gravitational force between that planet and the Sun. The greater the force, the faster the speed.

Question

According to the Law of Universal Gravitation, two objects are attracted to each other. The greater the total mass of the two objects, the stronger the attraction, or gravitational force. The greater the distance between the objects, the weaker the gravitational force. 

The orbital speed of a planet is a direct result of the gravitational force between that planet and the Sun. The greater the force, the faster the speed.

anonymous · Answer

The planet Mercury has a mass that is about 5% of Earth's mass and is the closest planet to the Sun. Jupiter has a mass more than 300 times greater than Earth's mass and is the fifth planet from the Sun.

Which of the following explains why Mercury's orbital speed is faster than Jupiter's?

anonymous · Answer

A Although Mercury has less mass than Jupiter, Mercury is faster because it is closer to the Sun than Jupiter is.
B Mercury is faster because it has more mass than Jupiter and is closer to the Sun than Jupiter is.
C Jupiter is slowed down by its greater mass, while Mercury's lesser mass makes it faster.

anonymous · Answer

@iPwnBunnies could ya plz help me plz

ipwnbunnies · Answer

I'm not space guy, but I'm pretty sure it's A. Mercury experiences a large centripetal force from the Sun.