since the moon is gravitationally attracted to the earth, why doesn't it simply crash into the earth?

Answer 1

The moon has a speed or velocity whose direction is perpendicular to the direction in which it is pulled toward earth.

Any object whose speed is perpendicular to the direction of a force will move along a circle.

If the moon's speed is somehow reduced, it will move in a circular path of lesser radius. Similarly if it has a speed or velocity in the direction of the force of pull it will come to earth as you have thought of.

Answer 2

Because the Moon also has horizontal motion. It does keep falling toward Earth (vertical motion) but it keeps on missing because of the horizontal motion. Imagine throwing a ball off a mountain. It follows a curve trajectory because the horizonta motion you put on it and gravity pulling it down. Throw it harder and it will travel further. Throw it hard enough and the it will miss the Earth as it falls around Earth's curvature. This is how on orbit is acheived.

Answer 3

The Moon is continuously falling towards the Earth, but it's moving sideways at just the right velocity that it continuously 'misses' the Earth. This situation is known as an orbit.

Answer 4

Great answers guys , but there's something to be said about
the Earths gravity and the fact it rotates on a set axis (22 deg)
and it's two poles (north & south), have slightly different
polaritys keeping it's axis true: thereby attracting the moon
with gravity and expelling it with polarization.

Answer 5

Because the Earth cheated on the moon and now the Moon hates the earth, that why he gets getting farther and farther away every night. Their through!!

Answer 6

You are twirling a ball on a string. If the string is constantly pulling the ball towards your hand, which you can tell from the string being tense, why doesn't the ball come crashing towards the hand?

Answer 7

Its answer 1