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Qmechanic
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What causes tangential velocity of a planet to change in an elliptical orbit?

I am confused about this concept of central force motion. We have read that object undergoing a change in velocity must possess acceleration. However, in elliptical orbit motion gravitational force is directed towards the radial direction, then what causes tangential velocity to change? I have read somewhere that there a component of gravitational force in the tangential direction as well, but I don't understand how?

Can anyone please help me with this?