2007-01-02 08:34:53 · 23 answers · asked by anoreld 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Well, the Sun's actually just about the heaviest thing in our Solar System, so any falling of anything into anything else here is probably going to be something falling into the Sun.
That said, it's inertia that keeps the Earth from falling into the Sun. When Earth is moving toward the Sun, it's gaining speed, but it's not pointed directly at the Sun, so when the Earth gets close, it misses the Sun entirely. Now the Earth is moving quickly, so even though it's closer to the Sun and gravity's pulling harder on it, the best the Sun can do is pull it all the way to the other side, moving away, so Earth ends up going away from the Sun again. The Sun's gravity still pulls on it, though, bringing it around to the same place it started in, and the whole thing starts over.
Actually, that's a bit exaggerated: the distance between Earth and the Sun doesn't change that much, nor does the speed Earth's going. But the same concept still applies.
You can also think of it as being centrifugal force that's keeping Earth from falling into the Sun, though that's not entirely accurate. It's the same illusion in both cases, though.
2007-01-02 08:46:15 · answer #1 · answered by Steven F 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Really the perspective of the sun falling from the sky is all wrong since we rotate around the sun, so we are actually in the SUN'S sky. Gravity keeps everything lined up properly though...
2007-01-02 08:37:32 · answer #2 · answered by Codi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably the fact that it would be the Earth hurtling towards the Sun instead of the other way around. It does have the larger gravitational pull.
2007-01-02 08:37:46 · answer #3 · answered by anerasescovedo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my 6 year old son asked exactly the same question the other day....and i told him god holds it in place, but i think the earths gravity and other planets orbiting around the sun keep it there, i am most probably wrong, and no doubt soemone will tell me im sure lol, i did like my explanation that i gave my son though, and he seems very happy with it too lol....
2007-01-02 08:39:06 · answer #4 · answered by bunnykins 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not 'in the sky'!
And it falls around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy at about 240km/sec
2007-01-02 08:37:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Gravity.
2007-01-02 08:53:22 · answer #6 · answered by Jerry P 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the giant dung bettle that pushes it across the sky has a really good grip.
egyptan mythology incase you were wondering
2007-01-02 08:40:26 · answer #7 · answered by steven m 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
judging from some of the answers confirms this world is full of idiots.
2007-01-02 08:41:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where would it fall to? Our planet circles it wherever it is going.
2007-01-02 08:37:16 · answer #9 · answered by Barkley Hound 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the gravitational balance in space. Doy!
2007-01-02 08:37:41 · answer #10 · answered by whiz 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋