What factors keep the planets in their orbits?

Answer 1

One factor is the Sun's huge gravitational pull. That keeps the planets captured in their orbits when combined with the the other factor which is the inertia of the planets.

The "inertia" of the planets means their tendency to move in a straight line unless acted on by a force. In this case that force is gravity.

Answer 2

The 'force' which keeps the Earth in orbit is simply gravity. The immense density of the Sun causes it to have an extremely large amount of gravity, pulling in the planets. Now, what keeps it in an orbital path is somewhat of a slingshot motion. Take this situation: in a room is a pole and a string attached to the pole with a ball at the end. The pole is the Sun, the ball is the Earth, and the string is the gravitational pull. When you push the ball in a motion so that it swings around the pole, the string pulls on the ball. One might think that the ball would hit the pole, but the ball is also pulling on the string. Since the pole is stationary, it has a greater strength than the ball. Now lets base this with your question. As the Earth goes forth, it will 'slingshot' around the Sun, because the Sun's gravitational pull will pull on the Earth, but the Earth's gravitational pull will only slightly pull on the Sun, causing the orbital path.

In short, the Earth's orbit is kept in check by both the Sun's and the Earth's differences in gravitational pulls.

Answer 3

The Sun's gravity and the Earth's inertia.

Answer 4

the suns gravitational pull, or gravity, is keeping the planets in orbit

Answer 5

It is the force from the Sun called gravity that keeps the Earth and other planets swinging around in elliptical orbits. Most of the planets' orbits are very close to being circular.

Answer 6

Dark Matter

Answer 7

gravity