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First, keep in mind that all objects that weigh anything have gravity - or how much they weigh (have mass). So the earth and other planets/asteroids/comets/planetesimals 'pull' on each other, their moons, if any, and on the Sun. Of course the Sun's gravity pulls all those things toward itself, too, because it has gravity. A lot of gravity.
So actually, the Earth and all those other things are always 'falling' toward the Sun, and vice versa. The falling takes a different version in this case. We are familiar with acceleration in a straight line because we see it around us every day.
But there is another acceleration that happens to objects in orbit.
This type of acceleration is the acceleration of falling, BUT the acceleration is not the type we call 'speeding up', but the type that pushes away from the Sun (centrifugal force, or the force that makes the object (Earth) try to change to A straight line motion and fly off into space. Why doesn't the Earth just fly off into space with all that force pushing it?
Well, the other 'acceleration' is called centripital acceleration - (again, not the kind associated with speed) - which results in 'centripital force', or the pulling of the Earth and Sun's gravity towards each other. Centripital force is like the "pull" on a string tied to a ball that you are whirling around. To answer your question . . . there is a very narrow orbit in which the Earth, etc, can orbit AND keep its centripital force and the opposite centrifugal force the same (balanced). And that is exactly where Earth is.
There is nothing to change the Earth's orbit unless the Earth becomes much heavier or lighter, or the Sun becomes heavier or lighter. (That could happen in many billions of years) So as long as the Earth and Sun remain roughly at their current weights (masses), the Earth (or whatever) stays balanced in its orbit. The Sun doesn't 'do' anything about it . . . it just needs to exist and have gravity, which it does.
KEY CONCEPT: Now, if the Earth (or whatever) or the Sun did change their mass, then the Earth would simply find a little bit smaller or larger orbit size, and be in balance, again, with slightly different centripital force and centrifugal force (but still equal to each other).
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How does gravity affect the movement of the moons?
Earths gravity keeps the moon from flying off in the same way the sun keeps earth in balance.
Where is the moon in the solar system?
ABOUT 40,000 km from the Earthit surrounds the earth.
What is the benefit of the atmosphere trapping energy from the sun?
The benefit of the atmosphere trapping energy from the sun is to keep Earth warm.
Why does the sun rotate around the sun?
The sun does not rotate around the sun. It does rotate on its axis, which is the result of angular momentum left over from the original gas cloud from which the sun condensed, billions of years ago.
Name for moving around the sun in a circular path?
The Earth actually moves in an elliptical or "oval" path around the Sun. The amount of eccentricity (the difference between our orbit and a perfect circle) is pretty small, so most people don't notice that the Earth is actually closer to the Sun on January 4, and farthest away from the Sun on July 4.There are two forces that are balanced to keep the Earth in its orbit. The first is inertia; the Earth is moving, and it would take energy to stop it, speed it up or slow it down. The second is gravity. The inertial forces cause the Earth to keep moving STRAIGHT ahead (up and away from the Sun and out into space), while the force of gravity tries to pull the Earth down into the Sun. Because they are in balance, the Earth stays in its orbit around the Sun.
What is the energy balance or energy budget in relation to the sun and the earth?
no
What is the energy balance and energy budget relation to the sun and earth?
no
How does earth keep its balance in space?
The question is meaningless. "Balance" is typically what you do to avoid being upset by an external force that's trying to tip you over. There is no external force in space trying to tip the Earth over. What's more, the Earth is very close to the shape of a sphere (a ball), and balance is never an issue in the case of a sphere.
How does gravity affect the movement of the moons?
Earths gravity keeps the moon from flying off in the same way the sun keeps earth in balance.
How can people help keep earth's ecosystem in balance?
how can people help keep earths ecosistem in balance
Why does revolve around the sun?
The sun does not revolve around the earth as was believed a long time ago. Now, with better telescopes, we know the earth, along with all the other planets in our solar system, revolve around the sun. The gravitational force of the sun pulls the planets to it and keeps them in an orbit, and the rotational force of the planets keep them from slamming into the sun. The balance from the forces of gravity from the sun and the rotational force of earth keep the earth revolving around the sun. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Einstein pointed out, all motion is relative, so it is perfectly true to say that the sun does revolve around the earth. However, the simplest mathematical model (in terms of the equations of motion) has the earth and the sun mutually rotating around a point that, due to the huge difference in masses of the sun and earth, is almost exactly at the centre of mass of the sun, so that it appears that the earth revolves around the sun.
Does the sun keep the earth warm?
The sun warms the earth. The heat (energy) from the earth then heats the air.
What helped keep the earth hot?
The sun.
What do animals do to help earth?
They keep the Earth's Ecosystem in balance. and they make great companions When they are domesticated...
Does the sun's gravity keep the moon in orbit?
no the earth does
What does sun do?
The sun heats up the planet on were live which is earth to keep us warm
Where is the moon in the solar system?
ABOUT 40,000 km from the Earthit surrounds the earth.
