Which of the diagrams shown in the figure most closely shows the variation in kinetic energy of the earth as it moves once around the sun in its elliptical orbit?
| 1. |  |
2. |  |
| 3. |  |
4. |  |
Step: Identify the figure that shows the variation in kinetic energy of the Earth.
As the earth moves once around the sun in its elliptical orbit when the earth is closest to the sun, the speed of the earth is maximum, and kinetic energy is maximum. When the earth is farthest from the sun speed is minimum, hence kinetic energy is minimum but never zero and negative.
Hence, option (4) is the correct answer.
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