2007-05-23 01:05:22 · 9 answers · asked by Jessie 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
gravity of the sun pulling them inward balances against the outward pressure creates an orbit
2007-05-23 01:11:18 · answer #1 · answered by Sulfol1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People have asked this question ever since ancient times, when planets were first noticed in the sky. Sir Isaac Newton was the first to understand why: the sun's gravity pulls planets into their orbits. Albert Einstein, using his general relativity, showed that the sun's gravity works by warping local space. The planets *are* flying off into space, but the warping of space makes sure they fly off in elliptical orbits!
If the sun were somehow snatched away very quickly, the space warp would disappear and the planets would fly off in straight lines. Fortunately, we don't know any way that could happen!
2007-05-23 08:14:44 · answer #2 · answered by Allen B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity holds them around the sun. Just think of an apple falling to the earth. What if instead of it falling straight down, you threw it off into the distance so hard that as it started to fall, it actually went so far that the earth started to curve away because the earth is round. The apple would just keep circling the earth! In a similar way, the planets circle the sun!
2007-05-23 08:13:02 · answer #3 · answered by supastremph 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello:
The gravitational pressure together with the whilling speed of the planets oround the horizon mintains their stabity and cannot go flying off space since the centripetal force is ever in in equillibrium.
2007-05-23 09:32:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity.
The sun's gravity is pulling them toward a common center. To see them fly away, you'd either have to magically shut that off, or supply the planets with much more energy of motion. Their current levels of energy of motion (speeds) keep them in the orbits they're in.
2007-05-23 08:10:21 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mine I say it's because of magnetism. Earth doesn't fly off because of gravity and the magnetic attraction to the sun.
The core of earth is composed of iron and nickel. Because of this, it doesn't fly off. Now the question is, why does planet revolves around the sun?
2007-05-23 08:43:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its the same reason why a person can swing a bucket full of water around and around in a circle and no water will fall out.
Acceleration , gravity centripital force, etc.........
2007-05-23 08:18:07 · answer #7 · answered by deburca98 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They ARE in space
2007-05-23 08:09:15 · answer #8 · answered by worried person 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gravity.. did you not learn ANYTHING in School?
2007-05-23 08:13:57 · answer #9 · answered by jennifer 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋