Why don't the planets fall into the sun?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for an explanation of the reason why planets remain in stable orbits around the sun instead of spiraling into it. This involves concepts from physics, particularly gravitational forces and orbital mechanics.
Answer
Planets stay in orbit around the Sun due to their high tangential velocity.
The final answer is that planets do not fall into the Sun because their tangential velocity is high enough to maintain an orbit around the Sun.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is that planets do not fall into the Sun because their tangential velocity is high enough to maintain an orbit around the Sun.
More Information
The balance between the gravitational pull of the Sun and the tangential velocity of the planets ensures that they keep moving in an orbit rather than falling into the Sun.
Tips
Common mistakes include neglecting the importance of tangential velocity or misunderstanding the concept of orbit as freefall influenced by gravity.
Sources
- What prevents planets from crashing into the Sun because of its gravitational pull - quora.com
- Why does earth not collide with the sun? - astronomy.stackexchange.com
- Why Don't the planets fall into sun. - Physics Forums - physicsforums.com
