How Do Planets Orbit the Sun?

Planets dance around the Sun because of gravity, a special kind of invisible pull. Imagine you're swinging on a swing: if you let go, you’ll fly out, but gravity pulls you back down. Planets are like that, they’re moving forward, and gravity pulls them toward the Sun, making them follow an oval-shaped path called an orbit.

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Examples

A ball tied to a string swings in circles, like planets going around the Sun.
If you jump off a swing, you'll go flying out until gravity pulls you back in.
The Moon keeps orbiting Earth because of the same pull that makes us stay on the ground.

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Categories: Physics · gravity,orbit,solar system,planets,celestial mechanics