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Why do Planets Orbit the Sun?
The attraction of gravity between the Sun and the planets
causes the planets to move around the
Sun
in an almost
circular path. This circular path is called the planet's orbit.
The direction of the pull
of gravity
is always towards
the
centre of the mass as shown in the picture below.
If gravity is pulling
the Earth into the centre of the Sun,
why does the Earth move in a circle?
Why doesn't the Earth crash into the centre
of the Sun?
(continued on the next page).
Links
Planets
The Solar System
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