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Are planets held in orbit by balanced unbalanced centrifugal or centripetal force?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
-- If all the forces on a planet were balanced, then the planet would move in
a straight line with constant speed, not in a curved path. So the forces on it
must be unbalanced.
-- That's easy to understand when you consider that there's only one force on
the planet ... the force of gravity that attracts it toward the sun. That force
is a centripetal one.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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Does the gravitational attraction of the sun on the planets act as a centripetal or as a centrifugal force explain?
By definition, a centripetal force is a force towards a central point, exerted on an object following a curved path. It causes an object to follow a curved path, such as an orbit; this is what the gravitational force of the sun does to planets. So it is clearly a centripetal force. A centrifugal force is defined as a force that is exerted away from a center around which an object either rotates or revolves. Literally, in terms of etymology, centrifugal means fleeing the center. Planets orbit the sun because of a balance of centripetal and centrifugal forces. If there were only an attractive force pulling a planet toward the sun, the planet would fall into the sun. And if there were only a centrifugal force pulling planets away from the sun, the planets would fly out of the solar system and into interstellar space. But since these two forces are balanced, planets remain in orbit around the sun. An object on which the forces are balanced travels in a straight line at constant speed. The planets do not travel in straight lines or at constant speeds, because the forces on them are not balanced. The only force on a planet is the centripetal force of gravitational attraction between it and the sun. That single force produces all of the orbits we observe, whether elliptical (repeating) or hyperbolic (not repeating). Those orbits are fairly easy to derive using Newton's formula for gravitational force and direction, plus some geometry and some calculus. Non-furious comments: I avoid writing "centrifugal force", by writing "centrifugal effect". I think that's more or less OK, depending on your "audience". Technically "centrifugal force" is called a "fictitious force". It is actually correct to use it in a rotating frame of reference. Unfortunately, it is often used incorrectly, even by educators. Luckily, the answer to the question was "centripetal force". <<>> The physical processes are that there is a force of gravity pulling the Sun and Earth towards each other. The force acts equally both ways, producing an acceleration in both objects, towards each other, following Netwon's second law: force equals mass times acceleration. The Sun's much greater mass means that its acceleration is small, while the Earth's acceleration towards the Sun keeps it in its elliptical orbit. That is what's happening, so for those who can't remember the difference between centrifugal and centripetal, don't worry, they are not terms used by astronomers.
Why are planets capable of staying in orbit around the sun?
Gravitational Pull, dummy!Additional answerGravitation ensures that the planet does not whizz off into space. But it's balanced by centrifugal force which stope the planet from crashing.
A force that keeps planets in orbit?
Centripetal Force.That force is, of course, supplied by gravitional force.
How do balanced forces help the planets?
The forces on the planets are not balanced. The gravitational force between the sun and each planet is what keeps the planet in orbit around the sun. If the forces on a planet were balanced, then the planet would sail off in a straight line, and would never be seen or heard from again.
Are the planets held in their orbits by unbalanced forces?
No. The planets are held in orbit by forces balanced against each other: The force of gravity from the sun would pull the planet into the sun destroying it. The momentum of the planet making it travel in straight line would result in the planet travelling away from the solar system. There are also other forces involved such as the pull from other planets on each other. Combined, they balance each other resulting in a planets circular/elliptical path orbiting the sun. Otherwise, the planet would have fallen into the sun, collided with other planets or other objects, or just flown away from the solar system long ago and we would never have known about it.The force that holds objects in orbit is gravity. In the case of our solar system, the planets are held in orbit by the gravity generated by Sol, our sun (a sun is a star with a satellite system).The inertia of the planets combined with the Sun's gravity keeps the planets in orbit. So, there's only really one force, gravity. However, the effect of inertia is sometimes referred to as "centrifugal force", although its not a real force.Objects in our solar system are kept from falling into Sol, the sun, by their centripetal motion (inertia). They are kept from flying off into empty space by Sol's gravity, generated by spacial displacement.They are held in orbit by the gravity of a celestial body of a greater mass. For example, the planets in our solar system are held in orbit by the gravity of the sun.
What is the unbalanced centripetal force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun?
The gravitational attraction by the Sun.
What force is operating between Sun and planets is it centripetal or centrifugal force?
The forces of attraction between the sun and each planet are gravitational forces, and they're both centripetal forces.
What causes the planets and moons to rotate?
The force of attraction of the central mass (star or planet) and high velocity of moving body, the central attraction works as centripetal force and velocity of moving body acts as centrifugal force, where these forces are balanced the body rotates for ever.
Does the gravitational attraction of the sun on the planets act as a centripetal or as a centrifugal force explain?
By definition, a centripetal force is a force towards a central point, exerted on an object following a curved path. It causes an object to follow a curved path, such as an orbit; this is what the gravitational force of the sun does to planets. So it is clearly a centripetal force. A centrifugal force is defined as a force that is exerted away from a center around which an object either rotates or revolves. Literally, in terms of etymology, centrifugal means fleeing the center. Planets orbit the sun because of a balance of centripetal and centrifugal forces. If there were only an attractive force pulling a planet toward the sun, the planet would fall into the sun. And if there were only a centrifugal force pulling planets away from the sun, the planets would fly out of the solar system and into interstellar space. But since these two forces are balanced, planets remain in orbit around the sun. An object on which the forces are balanced travels in a straight line at constant speed. The planets do not travel in straight lines or at constant speeds, because the forces on them are not balanced. The only force on a planet is the centripetal force of gravitational attraction between it and the sun. That single force produces all of the orbits we observe, whether elliptical (repeating) or hyperbolic (not repeating). Those orbits are fairly easy to derive using Newton's formula for gravitational force and direction, plus some geometry and some calculus. Non-furious comments: I avoid writing "centrifugal force", by writing "centrifugal effect". I think that's more or less OK, depending on your "audience". Technically "centrifugal force" is called a "fictitious force". It is actually correct to use it in a rotating frame of reference. Unfortunately, it is often used incorrectly, even by educators. Luckily, the answer to the question was "centripetal force". <<>> The physical processes are that there is a force of gravity pulling the Sun and Earth towards each other. The force acts equally both ways, producing an acceleration in both objects, towards each other, following Netwon's second law: force equals mass times acceleration. The Sun's much greater mass means that its acceleration is small, while the Earth's acceleration towards the Sun keeps it in its elliptical orbit. That is what's happening, so for those who can't remember the difference between centrifugal and centripetal, don't worry, they are not terms used by astronomers.
Why are forces balanced or unbalanced on planets?
The forces on the planets are not balanced. The gravitational force between the sun and each planet is what keeps the planet in orbit around the sun. If the forces on a planet were balanced, then the planet would sail off in a straight line, and would never be seen or heard from again.
Who moves the planets sun?
The momentum of the planets (centrifugal force) revolving around the sun is in a constant battle with the gravity of the sun which is trying to attract it (centripetal force). The centrifugal force wants to take off into space in a straight line, but the sun keeps dragging it back. It's a battle between the centrifugal force trying to escape VS the sun's gravity. Over the last 'jillion' years or so, the planets have reached an equilibrium of the forces. SO the planet just keep revolving away.
What forces keep the planets moving around the sun?
The centripetal force and the centrifugal force in balance. Both these forces are related to Gravitational Energy E=- GmM/r + mcV =-mu/r + mcV. The centripetal forces is mv^2/r and the centrifugal force is Del .mcV = -mcv/r cos(x). The orbit forces are 0= dmcV/dr + DelxmcV - Del mu/r.
Outward force made by centrifugal force that keeps planets in orbit?
Centrifugal force doesn't exist, and there is no outward force acting on planets. The only force on them is the 'centripetal' one ... the gravitational force between each planet and the sun, that attracts the planet in the direction toward the sun. That's the only force required to keep a planet in orbit ... which is lucky, because it's the only force there is.
What keeps the sun from blowing up answer?
Gravitational pull of sun makes the planets orbit it.Also, centripetal force acts in opposite direction of centrifugal force(force that pulls an object towards the centre of a circle)to keep planets in their orbits around the sun According to General Relativity the sun warps spacetime with its gravity. The earth follows a locally straight world line in that warped spacetime, but globally that world line is a helix centered on the sun's world line. There is no gravitational pull or centrifugal/centripetal force in relativity.
What force keep the planets in motion?
Inertia is the force that causes planets to move in a straight line. The gravity of a more massive body, such as the sun, causes them to fall into orbit instead of continuing in a straight line.
Why are planets capable of staying in orbit around the sun?
Gravitational Pull, dummy!Additional answerGravitation ensures that the planet does not whizz off into space. But it's balanced by centrifugal force which stope the planet from crashing.
What is the true relationship between gravity and the motion of our solar system?
Gravity is an attraction of masses to each other. The mass of the Sun is very great and it pulls on all the planets. If there were nothing to stop this attraction the planets would be pulled into the Sun. But, just like whirling a ball around your head with a string and the ball stays out at the end of the string the planets whirling (well, rotating) around the Sun keeps them from falling into the Sun. The pull (attraction) of the Sun is like the string. This pull is called the centripetal force. If you cut the string the ball would fly off. The rotation of the planets makes them want to fly off too. This urge to fly off is called the centrifugal force. When the centripetal force equals the centrifugal force the planet is in a stable orbit.
