The Earth and the Moon are gravitationally attracted to the Sun, but they don't crash into the Sun. A friend says that is because Earth and the Moon are beyond the Sun's main gravitational influence. Other friends look to you for a response. What do you say?

Question

Social Studies

Nataly Porter

13 February, 11:25

The Earth and the Moon are gravitationally attracted to the Sun, but they don't crash into the Sun. A friend says that is because Earth and the Moon are beyond the Sun's main gravitational influence. Other friends look to you for a response. What do you say?

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Answers (1)

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Coby Bailey · Answer 1

Our planet (and all the objects that the Solar System orbits) are constantly being attracted to the Sun. If our planet were stationary with respect to our star, it would have crashed by the force of gravity. But in reality, it moves laterally at about 3 km / s in relation to the center of the Sun, our planet does not go fast enough to escape the gravity of the star but it goes too fast for the Sun to get close to it.