How do planets stay in orbit?

Answer 1

Planets stay in orbit due to the gravity of the sun. The sun is much bigger and has greater mass compared to planets. This causes the sun to have a greater gravitational pull on planets.

Centripetal force is required to keep objects in a circular motion. This force is provided by the gravitational force of attraction between the planets and the sun. The planets revolve at great speeds around the sun. They would continue to move in a straight line were it not for the sun. The gravity of the sun causes a change in direction and makes the planets move in elliptical orbits instead of moving in a straight line

Answer 2

There are two factors; the tangential velocity, and the gravity. The planets have a tangential velocity, they are speeding along sideways relative to the sun. If there was no gravity, this velocity would take the planets away from the sun, but the sun has a huge gravitational force which counteracts this effect. The suns gravitational force is constantly attracting the planets in, against this tangential velocity. If the planets were to slow down, then they would eventually spiral into the sun, but in space there is no drag, so the planets maintain their speed and their orbits.

The same can be said for moons in orbit around planets, or artificial satellites in orbit around the earth (or other planet).

Answer 3

The planet has its forward speed and at the same time the Sun's gravity is pulling it sideways. The gravity causes an acceleration towards the Sun, which makes the planet's path curve towards the Sun. This process is continuous.

The planet moves in an ellipse of low eccentricity, which for all the planets except Mercury is very nearly a perfect circle.

Answer 4

planets are in orbit because of the suns gravitational field

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Planets are kept in their orbits by gravitational forces.

Answer 5

Because there is no other forces in the solar system to stop them ;)

Answer 6

As long as they don't lose energy, they will keep in the same orbit. Since in outer space there is hardly any matter, there is hardly anything that will make them lose energy.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

the gravitational pull from the sun

Answer 9

gravitational pull from the sun