which quantities decrease as the distance between a planet and the sun increases? check all that…

Explanation:

Step1: Recall gravitational - force formula

The gravitational force between the Sun of mass $M$ and a planet of mass $m$ separated by a distance $r$ is given by $F = G\frac{Mm}{r^{2}}$, where $G$ is the gravitational constant. As $r$ increases, $F$ decreases since $F\propto\frac{1}{r^{2}}$.

Step2: Recall tangential - speed formula

For a planet in circular orbit around the Sun, the centripetal force is provided by the gravitational force, so $G\frac{Mm}{r^{2}}=m\frac{v^{2}}{r}$, and the tangential speed $v=\sqrt{\frac{GM}{r}}$. As $r$ increases, $v$ decreases since $v\propto\frac{1}{\sqrt{r}}$.

Step3: Analyze mass

The mass of a planet is an intrinsic property and does not change with its distance from the Sun.

Step4: Recall Kepler's second - law

Kepler's second law states that a line segment joining a planet and the Sun sweeps out equal areas during equal intervals of time. The area swept out in a day is constant for a given planet - Sun system.

Step5: Analyze distance traveled in a day

The distance traveled in a day $d = vt$. Since $v$ decreases as $r$ increases and the time $t = 1$ day is constant, $d$ decreases.

Answer:

tangential speed, gravitational force, distance traveled in a day