As the angle gets smaller, the x component of the vector gets larger (it approaches the magnitude of the vector) and the y component of the vector gets smaller (it approaches zero). However, i...As the angle gets smaller, the x component of the vector gets larger (it approaches the magnitude of the vector) and the y component of the vector gets smaller (it approaches zero). However, if we use the radial and tangential directions to describe the motion of the planet, the velocity can be described as tangential and the acceleration can be described as being directed along the radius (the negative of the radial direction).
