Question

''The gravitational force between the earth and the moon enables the moon to move in its orbit around the earth. But when the gravitational force between the earth and the moon stops then the moon falls in a straight line''
What I think is that since there is 0 gravity in space, shouldn't the moon float instead of fall in a straight line . Why does it fall in a straight line?

Answer 1

It will not fall towards earth, instead it will fly out tangentially, because of its linear momentum. And it will continue to move in a straight line.