Answers (2)
Yes, linear velocity as well as angular velocity increase as the earth approaches the point of nearest distance to the sun. This is a direct consequence of the planets' obediently abiding by Kepler's 2nd Law ;) , which postulates constant areal velocity, meaning that In a small time dt the planet sweeps out a small triangle having base line r and height r dθ and area dA = 1/2 * r * r dθ and so the constant areal velocity is
dA / dt = 1/2 r² dθ/dt .
[ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kepler's_laws_of_planetary_motion ]