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The gravity of the Sun pulls on the planets and keeps them revolving in their orbits. The planets are moving at relatively high velocities (between 5 and 48 kilometers per second) and thereby resist this gravitational pull, and there is comparatively little friction in space to slow them down.
(*the Earth is moving at about 30 km/sec in its orbit, which is 67,000 mph!)
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThey orbit because of the Sun's gravity (just as the Moon orbits Earth)
together with the planets' velocities, at a tangent to their orbital paths.
So, they don't fly off into the Sun because the planets have velocities at any instant (distance traveled per time unit) in a direction perpendicular (more or less) to the Sun's pull. If that makes sense to you... sorry for the nerdy talk...
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoGravity of Sun
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How is moon different than a planet?
The moon orbits the planet Earth rather than the sun, so it is considered a moon.
Why are the gas planet moons not considered planets?
Io and Titan are moons because they orbit planets (Jupiter and Saturn respectively).
Does a comet orbit anything?
Yes, comets orbit the sun, but usually in an eliptical (oval) or eccentric orbit rather than a more-or-less circular one like the planets.
Do planets obit the sun?
Eight planets orbit our sun. More than a thousand planets far beyond our solar system are known to orbit other stars.
What is a moon and how does it move around the solar system?
Moons are approximately spherical objects which orbit planets and are smaller than the planets that they orbit, although they are still relatively large objects (so an orbiting dust particle does not qualify as a moon). Since moons orbit planets, their motion around the solar system is controlled by the planets that they orbit; planets orbit the sun, and planets take their moons with them.
How is moon different than a planet?
The moon orbits the planet Earth rather than the sun, so it is considered a moon.
Why your planets revolve in elliptical orbit rather than circular orbit?
Circular orbits are unstable; any outside influence (i.e. other planets) will distort them. Elliptical orbits are self adjusting.
Why are the gas planet moons not considered planets?
Io and Titan are moons because they orbit planets (Jupiter and Saturn respectively).
Does a comet orbit anything?
Yes, comets orbit the sun, but usually in an eliptical (oval) or eccentric orbit rather than a more-or-less circular one like the planets.
What is the difference between a planet and other space objects?
To qualify as a planet, a body has to be approximately round, it has to orbit the sun and it has to have cleared its orbit of all other objects - so that at that distance from the sun, there are no other sizable bodies. Some dwarf planets, like Pluto, fulfill the first two requirements, but not the last one, this is why they are deemed dwarf planets rather than planets.
What distinguishes inner planets and outer planets?
Inner planets have a radius orbit shorter than the orbit of Jupiter. Outer planets are all the other planets of the solar system.
How is Pluto's orbit different from other planets orbits?
Pluto's orbit is longer and slower than other planets.
How does newtons gravitational law helps to discover new planets?
When a planet moves around a star, it causes the star to wobble a bit from side to side as planets follow an elliptical orbit rather than a circular orbit. Astronomers can then use this fact to see whether stars have planets.
What can a natural satellite be?
Any satellite that is NOT placed into orbit by humans (or, potentially, aliens).Basically, our Moon - and the moons that orbit other planets.
What was the atomic model resembled planets orbiting the sun?
The atomic model in which electrons orbit the nucleus the way that planets orbit the sun is called the Bohr atom. We now know that atoms are really not very much like that at all, and electrons do not orbit the nucleus, they form shells, rather than orbits.
What are some ways that stars and planets are similar?
Planets and stars are similar:FEW OF THE WAYS ARE :Both the stars and planets moveThey are celestial objectsThey are studied by astronomers
Why are planets that orbit around the Sun and satellites that orbit around these planets always called ellipses rather than perfect circles?
The planets, and the satellites that orbit around them, are affected by gravity from the sun and other celestial objects. The effects of gravity at different locations during their orbits prevent their orbits from being circular, and they become elliptical (more or less egg-shapped).
