If sun has a large amount of gravity why doesnt the earth go straight into it and instead why does it orbit in an eliptical orbit?

Open in App

Solution

Dear Student!!
The sun and earth attract each other with equal force called the gravitational force. This force provides the necessary centripetal acceleration for earth to orbit around the sun. That is,
Gravitational force = Centripetal force
The earth orbits around the sun, the net force acting on the earth is zero and hence it doesn't move closer to sun and therefore does not collide.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

Even Due to the gravitational force of the sun, the earth does not get attracted fully towards the core of the sun and moves around it in an elliptical orbit. Why does it not get fully attracted towards the core of the sun and also why does it move in an elliptical orbit ?

Q. why do planets revolve around the sun in an elliptical orbit and why not in a circular orbit?

Q. The sun has gravitational force through which it keeps all the planets in an orbit then why does the sun pull only mercury the closest why not other planets?

Q. An artificial earth satellite is rotating in an elliptical orbit. When does it experience the greatest centripetal acceleration?

Q. The earth revolves round the sun in an elliptical orbit. Its speed is

Join BYJU'S Learning Program