Which of the following keeps the Earth from falling into the sun?

Question

Group of answer choices

A. The Earth's mass is the same value as the gravitational constant

B. The moon's gravitational pull on Earth

C. The inertia of the motion of Earth's velocity

D. The Earth's gravitational pull on itself

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

C. The inertia of the motion of Earth's velocity

The Earth remains in orbit around the Sun due to a balance between the gravitational pull of the Sun and the inertia of the Earth's motion. The Earth's velocity causes it to move in a straight line, while the Sun's gravity pulls it towards itself. This combination results in an elliptical orbit rather than the Earth falling directly into the Sun.