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2 forces keep are the key in earth's orbit: gravity and inertia

Inertia is the bit that would send the earth flying off into outer space, so it can hardly be held part responsible for keeping it in orbit. As the earth tries to speed past the sun (inertia) the attractive gravitational pull force bends it from its path, so it adopts a new direction, and the gravitational force keeps on bending its path and the earth finishes up in an orbit. Much like twirling a weight on a string, where the tension in the string stops the weight from travelling straight on and away. The ancient "sling" weapon used this idea - you twirl the stone in your sling round and round faster and faster, and the tension gets bigger as the rotation gets faster. Then you release your hold and the tension is released and with nothing now to keep it "in orbit" the stone flies off at high speed (due to its "inertia").

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12y ago

The force that keeps earth orbiting the sun is the mutual force of gravitation

between earth and the sun.

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Q: What force keeps the earth and other planets orbiting around the sun?
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Related questions

What force is responsible for the moon orbiting around the earth and earth orbiting around the sun?

The force of gravity causes the moon to orbit the Earth, and the Earth to orbit the sun.


Could you name the forces the earth to orbit the sun?

The force of gravity keeps the Earth (and all the other planets) orbiting the Sun.


What force is responsible for the moon orbiting earth and earth orbiting the sun?

The force of gravity.


What force keeps the moon in orbit around the sun?

The force of gravity that they exert on each other, and the velocities of the Moon and Earth which is their "inertia".


Why do all the planets orbit the sun?

Not all the planets orbit the sun - other stars have planets too. But all the planets in our solar system, which is the system of our sun, revolve around the sun; otherwise they would be in other solar systems. All the planets we can see with our naked eye orbit the sun, since the planets orbiting the sun are the only ones close enough to earth to see without a telescope.


What is the force for the moon orbiting the earth?

Gravity


Where does force needed to keep planets orbiting the sun come from?

The force is provided by the Sun's gravitational attraction.


Is the force that makes an apple fall the same force that keeps the earth orbiting around the sun?

Yes - the same gravity that makes the apple fall from the tree - keeps the earth in orbit around the sun.


What force is made when the moon is orbiting the Earth?

Methane


What force is responsible for orbiting motions of the sun moon and earth?

The force of gravity.


What causes the effect of microgravity when the space shuttle is orbiting the earth?

Centrifugal force.The orbiter is going so fast that the force created by going around the earth offsets the force gravity.


What does force have to do with the moon orbiting the earth?

Force? As in The Force from Star Wars? Or a gravitation force? Care to explain?