A student looks at an animated model of the planets orbiting the sun. What should the model show to demonstrate why planets do not end up going into the sun?

Question

The planets are made of rock and gas and cannot go into the sun.
The planets are made of rock and gas and cannot go into the sun.

The planets are too big to go into the sun.
The planets are too big to go into the sun.

The planets are far away so they cannot go into the sun.
The planets are far away so they cannot go into the sun.

The planets move too fast to go into the sun.

Answer 1

To effectively demonstrate why planets do not end up going into the sun, the model should primarily illustrate the concept of orbital motion and gravitational forces. Among the options provided, "The planets move too fast to go into the sun" is the most relevant explanation.

When planets orbit the sun, they are in a delicate balance between gravitational attraction and their own inertia due to their orbital velocity. The gravity of the sun pulls the planets inward, while their forward motion (their speed) attempts to carry them away from the sun. This combination creates a stable orbit where the planets do not fall into the sun.

In an animated model, showing the planets with arrows indicating their orbital paths and speeds in relation to the sun's gravity would effectively illustrate this concept.