Planets in our solar system travel in their own orbital paths around the Sun. What causes the planets to continuously orbit the Sun instead of floating away into space?

A)

Not enough room is available in space for planets to float freely.

B)

The planets' magnetic poles prevent them from leaving their orbital paths.

C)

Gravitational pulls of planets' moons are too strong for planets to float away.

D)

The Sun's large mass causes it to have significant gravitational force, holding planets in their orbital paths.

The Sun's large mass causes it to have significant gravitational force, holding planets in their orbital paths.

Explanation:

Scientists have long established that the solar system is held together by the gravitational force of attraction between the bodies in space.

According to scientists, the magnitude of the gravitational force of attraction depends on the relative masses of the bodies. The larger the masses of the bodies the greater the gravitational force of attraction.

Hence the large mass of the sun causes it to have a large and significant gravitational pull on the planets thereby holding them in their orbital parts.

The Answer is D. The sun's large mass causes it to have significant gravitational force, holding planets in their orbital paths. The moon does not effect this pull, as the sun's pull is much stronger than the moon's. The moon is responsible for the tides of the Earth, and it in fact rotates around us.