* Conservation of Energy: The object's total energy (kinetic + potential) remains constant. As it gets closer to the Sun, its gravitational potential energy decreases (because it's lower in the Sun's gravitational well). To conserve total energy, its kinetic energy must increase, which translates to a higher orbital speed.
* Kepler's Laws: Kepler's Second Law of Planetary Motion states that a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times. This means that a planet moves faster when it's closer to the Sun and slower when it's farther away.
Think of it like this: Imagine a spinning ice skater. When they pull their arms in, they spin faster. The same principle applies to objects orbiting the Sun. As the object gets closer to the Sun, its "gravitational pull" effectively "pulls in" its orbital path, causing it to speed up.
Important Note: This increase in speed is not just a result of the Sun's gravity "pulling" the object. It's a consequence of the object's conserved energy being redistributed between potential and kinetic energy.
