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A fair amount, though it depends on the distances of the planets and their masses. The important thing is that the gravity (and therefore mass) of the central sun must be much greater than that of the planets, other wise they would orbit each other (or the sun would orbit the planet if its mass was much greater).

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How does gravity hold the planets and their moons in orbit?

All particles have a natural attraction to each other on a molecular level. Since planets are so massive, this attraction is much greater, and can be effective over great distances. There is gravity between all objects, but not as strong, so you might not feel it.


What force holds the planets in orbit around the sun?

It's the force of gravity which acts on the planets and keeps them in their orbits. Gravity works both ways but the Sun is more massive by far so does not move very much at all. The planets are caused to accelerate towards the Sun by gravity. They move in their orbits with velocities, at any moment, at a tangent to their orbital paths. The result is that they move in a continuous curve around the Sun. If they move slightly closer they speed up, which causes them to move out again, so the orbits are stable. Potential energy and kinetic energy are being exchanged all the time for each planet but the total stays constant.


How does the planets orbit around the sun?

the reason why the planets revolve around or orbit the sun is that the gravity of the sun keeps them in their orbits. Just as the moon orbits earth because of the pull of earths gravity. Earth orbits the sun because of the pull of the suns gravity.


Is the sun earths gravity?

No, the Sun does not have Earth's gravity; rather, it has its own gravitational pull, which is much stronger due to its larger mass. The Sun's gravity is what keeps the Earth and other planets in orbit around it. Earth's gravity, on the other hand, is what keeps objects on its surface and influences the orbits of its moons and artificial satellites.


What is the effects of the suns gravity on the planets?

The sun's gravity has a number of effects on the planets. Primarily, the sun's gravity is what sets the orbits of the 9 planets. With one revolution around the sun equaling a solar year (365.25 days on earth). Planets closer to the sun orbit the sun at higher speeds due the sun's gravity being stronger at short distances (Gravity decreases exponentially as distance increases from an object) The sun's gravity also has major tidal effects on the planets. High and low tides cycles on earth are partially a function of differences in the sun's gravity on different portions of the earth. The sun's gravity pulls slightly more on the side of the earth facing the sun, causing fluids to bulge toward that side resulting in a high tide cycle. On Mercury, where the sun's gravity is much stronger, tidal forces are powerful enough to alter solid rock and effect the planets landscape.

Related Questions

Is it true that- gravity holds planets in orbit because planets are attracted to each other's gravitational force?

No, gravity holds planets in orbit around the sun because the sun's gravity pulls on them. This gravitational force between the sun and planets keeps them in their respective orbits. The force between planets themselves is much smaller and mainly affects their interactions with each other rather than their orbits around the sun.


Which force is responsible for the orbit of the earth?

The Earth stays in its orbit under the force of gravity from the Sun, which is much more massive than all the planets.


What force keeps the planets in orbit around the sun?

Gravitational pull from the sun, and that's really it!Yeah that's pretty much it. But want to know is how it works? The sun has a huge gravitational pull because its bigger than the planets, but so that we don't get sucked in with the moons and other planets because they keep us just in line. The planets want to just keep going straight outward instead of around but the sun has the perfect amount of pull that keeps us going around the sun. Good question by the way.The reason why we do not fall into the sun due to gravity is that the Earth is moving in its orbit at nearly 70,000 mph. This velocity counters the pull of gravity to keep the orbits stable.Electromagnetic forceThat answer up there is so wrong. the right answer is gravity


How much gravity is in water?

Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards each other. In water, gravity affects the mass of the water and any objects in it, causing them to be pulled towards the center of the Earth. The force of gravity in water is the same as on land, approximately 9.81 m/s^2.


How does gravity hold the planets and their moons in orbit?

All particles have a natural attraction to each other on a molecular level. Since planets are so massive, this attraction is much greater, and can be effective over great distances. There is gravity between all objects, but not as strong, so you might not feel it.


Why don't astronauts walk very much in the space station?

There is no net gravity to keep their feet on the ground. In fact the gravity is cancelled out by the centrifugal force of the circular orbit,


What is the name of the force that keeps planets from escaping from the sun and the solar system?

GravityGravity is the force that brings all things together.The gravity, between the Sun and the planets.If you was a general answer, all of them. However if you want a technical answer, none of them, being that all objects, including the sun, orbit the center of mass of the solar system.Gravity from the sun keeps the planets in the solar system.Gravitational force.Everything has a center of gravity, and a gravitational pull. For example, what keeps Earth from floating off into space? Answer: The Sun. The sun is what we're orbiting because it has a massive gravitational pull at it's center pulling our smaller planets towards it.The gravity from the sun attracts the planets, vs the speed of the planets keeping them from falling into the sun.I believe earth is traveling about 2,000 miles an hour.It's all about SPEED, MASS, GRAVITY and maintaining an equilibrium.The planets want to go straight out into the void, but the pull of the sun keeps it curving around the sun.The mass of the sun is much greater than it's planets, so everything with mass will be drawn to the gravity pull of our Sun.So, it's the particular speed of the planets that maintain the orbit, and keep them from flying out into space, or from sinking into the Sun.This is relatively stable, although all planets also effect each other, changing slightly the path of their orbits.so also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbit


How does the sun's gravity affect the planets?

Yes. The sun is attracted by the gravity of the planets just as the planets are attracted by the sun. Since the sun is more massive it does not move as much, bu the gravity of the orbiting planets does cause it to "wobble."


What force holds the planets in orbit around the sun?

It's the force of gravity which acts on the planets and keeps them in their orbits. Gravity works both ways but the Sun is more massive by far so does not move very much at all. The planets are caused to accelerate towards the Sun by gravity. They move in their orbits with velocities, at any moment, at a tangent to their orbital paths. The result is that they move in a continuous curve around the Sun. If they move slightly closer they speed up, which causes them to move out again, so the orbits are stable. Potential energy and kinetic energy are being exchanged all the time for each planet but the total stays constant.


How much gravity has the sun got?

The gravity of the sun is massive. A 100 lb person would weigh over 2100 lbs on the sun!


How do planets stay in orbit?

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


Is revolove and orbit the same thing?

Revolve is a much more general description, such as a wheel revolving or anything that rotates. It can be used to describe planets moving around the sun for example, but describing this as an orbit is more specific (where gravity and rotational speed is involved).