What Parts Work Together?

How do planets stay in their orbits instead of falling into the sun? The key parts involved are the sun's gravity and the speed of the planets. Gravity pulls the planets toward the sun, while their speed wants to carry them straight ahead. These forces must balance perfectly, allowing planets to orbit safely around the sun instead of crashing into it. Imagine a planet like a yo-yo being swung around on a string; as long as the forces are just right, it won't fly away or fall down.

🧠 Pause & Think: What do you think would happen if a planet slowed down?

👀 Visualize This: Draw a sun in the center and a planet orbiting around it. Add arrows to show the gravity pulling the planet in. Now add arrows showing the planet’s speed pushing out. Why do they need to balance?

🔧 Try This: Get a string and tie it to a small object. Swing it around in a circle above your head. What do you notice?