Why earth is not in contact with sun if both are attracting each other with gravity?

Open in App

Solution

The two most important things to keep in mind is
that one, sun and earth both are not stationary masses.
Two, there are gravitational forces from other planets affecting earth.
Of course earth may collide into sun if both are stationary- imagine pulling your friend towards you while he is standing still, he'll directly hit you right?
Now if he is running towards you with one arm stretched and you pull that arm towards you, he'll probably spin around you isn't it?

That's what is happening in solar system too.Taking into account the high speed motion and other forces acting in the planets they don't collide.
You'll study about concepts like linear, angular momentum and centrifugal forces in higher classes.

Suggest Corrections

Similar questions

The force of gravity makes the sun to attract the earth toward it,but why the earth is not getting attracted towards the sun,instead it is rotating around the sun.why? Give reason.

Q. The earth and the moon are attracted to each other by gravitational force. Does the earth attract the moon with a force the moon attracts the earth? Why?

Q. Two lead spheres of same radius are in contact with each other. The gravitational force of attraction between them is F. If two lead spheres of double the previous radius are in contact with each other, the gravitational force of attraction between them will be:

The Moon and the earth attract each other, why does it not collapse into Earth?

Q. Two identical copper spheres with uniform density each of radius

R

are in contact with each other. If the gravitational attraction between them is

F

, then

Join BYJU'S Learning Program