The force of gravity indeed pulls all the planets towards the sun. However, the planets also have a significant amount of angular momentum which enables them to remain in orbit rather than falling directly into the sun.
Angular momentum is the property of an object moving in a curved path around a central point, and it depends on both the mass of the object and its velocity. In the case of the planets, their considerable mass and high velocities generate sufficient angular momentum, causing them to continually travel in a curved path, following the gravitational pull of the sun.
This balance between the gravitational pull and the angular momentum of the planets allows them to sustain their orbit around the sun without spiraling inward. Essentially, it's the result of constantly falling towards the sun, but also constantly missing it due to the angular momentum they possess.
What prevents the gravity of the sun to pull all the planets toward it?
1 answer