Gravity keeps planets in orbit from "summary" of A Short History of Nearly Everything: Special Illustrated Edition by Bill Bryson
The force that keeps the planets in orbit is gravity. It is an astonishingly simple concept, yet it is one of the most fundamental forces in the universe. Gravity is the invisible tug that exists between all objects with mass. The greater the mass of an object, the stronger its gravitational pull. In the case of planets orbiting around the sun, gravity is what keeps them in their elliptical paths. The sun's immense mass creates a gravitational force that pulls the planets towards it. At the same time, the planets are also in motion, trying to move in a straight line according to Newton's first law of motion. However, the gravitational force from the sun bends the path of the planets, causing them to move in a curved orbit. Interestingly, the speed at which a planet orbits the sun is determined by a delicate balance between the gravitational pull of the sun and the planet's own inertia. If the planet were to move too slowly, it would be pulled towards the sun and eventually crash into it. Conversely, if the planet were to move too fast, it would fly off into space. This delicate balance is what keeps the planets in stable orbits around the sun. It is a remarkable example of the elegance and simplicity of the laws of nature. Without gravity, the planets would be adrift in space, lost to the vast emptiness of the universe. It is gravity that gives structure and order to the solar system, binding the planets to the sun in a cosmic dance that has been playing out for billions of years.
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