Question

get it? summarize how the gravitational force can be used to explain the phenomenon of a planet orbiting the sun. science notebook • gravitation 111

Explanation:

The gravitational force between the Sun and a planet (given by Newton's law of universal gravitation, \( F = G\frac{Mm}{r^2} \), where \( G \) is the gravitational constant, \( M \) is the Sun’s mass, \( m \) is the planet’s mass, and \( r \) is the distance between them) provides the centripetal force required for the planet to follow a curved (orbital) path. This centripetal force causes the planet to continuously change its velocity direction, resulting in orbital motion (e.g., elliptical orbits as described by Kepler’s laws, with gravity governing the orbital period, radius, and speed).

Answer:

The gravitational force (from Newton’s law \( F = G\frac{Mm}{r^2} \)) acts as the centripetal force, curving the planet’s path into an orbit (e.g., elliptical, per Kepler’s laws), with gravity determining orbital parameters like period and radius.