Question: For a planet orbiting the Sun, Mars for example, we know that its kinetic energy is highest when it is nearest to the Sun, and

For a planet orbiting the Sun, Mars for example, we know that its kinetic energy is highest when it is nearest to the Sun, and its gravitational potential energy is highest when it is farthest from the Sun. What can you conclude about the planet's total energy as its orbits the Sun?
It is lowest when the planet is farthest to the Sun.
It is highest when the planet is closest to the Sun.
The total energy of the planet does not change as it orbits the Sun.
For a planet orbiting the Sun, Mars for example,

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