The image shows earth’s orbit around the sun. which describes the changes in earth’s motion? the speed increases from w to x because a component of the gravitational force acts in the direction opposite to the velocity. the speed increases from w to x because a component of the gravitational force acts in the direction of the velocity. the speed increases from x to w because a component of the gravitational force acts in the direction opposite to the velocity. the speed increases from x to w because a component of the gravitational force acts in the direction of the velocity.