Chapter 7, Problem 16RQ

Are the planets of the solar system simply projectiles falling around and around the sun?

To determine

The explanation about the planets of the solar system around the Sun as falling projectiles.

Answer to Problem 16RQ

The planets move like falling projectile around the Sun due to the high speed and very large radius of the circular path around the Sun.

Explanation of Solution

The air is not present in the space, so the air resistances do not act on the planets around the Sun. The speed of the planets around the Sun is very high, so the planets behave like a high-speed projectile. The gravitational force of the sun act on every planet.

If the planets move freely, then these should move along a straight line, but due to effect of the gravitational force on each planet, they start to move around the Sun. The planets move like projectile along a straight line, but they move around the Sun within a circular path. The radius of the circular path is large, so the straight motion converts to circular motion and planet tend to fall around the Sun.

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Conclusion:

Therefore, the planets move like falling projectile around the Sun due to the high speed and very large radius of the circular path around the Sun.