2007-03-16 18:18:16 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Isn't astronomy interesting?
Here's a basic answer. The reality is a bit more complex, but this should be close enough. An orbit is just a controlled fall, including the orbit of the planets around the sun. In Earth orbit, the gravity of Earth is pulling the object down, but because it is moving forward fast enough, it falls around the curve of the Earth instead of straight down. The gravity of the Sun works the same way.
Imagine the Earth was a block. a space craft is traveling parallel to one surface at a high rate of speed. Meanwhile, gravity is pulling it down towards the block, so its path is really at an angle, heading towards the block. However, by the time it reaches the plane of that side of the block, it is beyond the edge, and heading away from the block. Once again, gravity is pulling it toward the block, but its speed keeps that fall from being a straight line to the face of the block. In other words, it is falling AROUND the block.
The idea of an orbit is to make sure your forward motion matches the downward motion caused by gravity.
I hope that makes sense. So, the orbiting object is trying to move in a straight line, but gravity makes its path circular. If there was nothing there (like the sun), an object would continue to move in a straight line. If our sun disappeared, the planets would all fly off into space.
Now, other things could happen, depending on their relative positions, but those scenarios are too numerous and too complicated to discuss. Their paths outward into the galaxy would be affected by each other's gravity, but I doubt enough to change their directions radically. Eventually (say millions of years), each would probably take up orbit around other stars, unless they collided with another object.
Did you know that astronauts in orbit are really not weightless? They are affected by gravity, too. However, they are falling at the same rate of speed as their spacecraft, so there is no force to hold them against any one surface. It gives the feeling of weightlessness, but it isn't.
2007-03-16 18:19:16 · answer #1 · answered by spaceprt 5 · 5⤊ 0⤋
it would be catastrophic.
the sun is the center of all the solar system
it holds all the planets together
without it, all the planets will just zone off to another gravitational pull.
2007-03-16 18:23:27 · answer #2 · answered by Ekeeeezzz 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Without the sun? the 9 planets, stars, heavenly bodies will be soaring and gliding in vacuum space into a color deep blue, state that scientists cannot explain.
2007-03-16 18:29:01 · answer #3 · answered by wilma m 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Aside from they will freeze and life won't exist on earth, planets will float freely into space, collide each other and they might attract a comet or meteorite to collide with them. It would be chaotic
2007-03-17 02:55:19 · answer #4 · answered by Lyrad 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would all fly off at a tangent from the point the gravity released them.
First mercury then mars then earth etc.
2007-03-17 01:31:38 · answer #5 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the planets would both freeze, and have nothing left to orbit and would probably either drift off into space, or collide from each other's gravitational pull i believe...
2007-03-16 18:22:27 · answer #6 · answered by b fakes 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There would be a worldwide convention to bend over and kiss your *** goodbye!
2007-03-16 18:22:46 · answer #7 · answered by just a guy 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The solar system would collapse .
2007-03-16 18:27:26 · answer #8 · answered by Devil 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yeah, it will be so dark, freeze, and...
it will bo no "Solar System"
2007-03-17 02:52:00 · answer #9 · answered by ove_obito 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it would get really, really dark......dtlts
2007-03-16 18:25:55 · answer #10 · answered by whiteman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋