In which direction would Earth move if the Sun's gravitational force were suddenly removed from it?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the Sun's gravitational force were suddenly removed from the Earth, the Earth would continue to move along its circular orbit but in a straight line tangential to the orbit. This is because of the inertia of the Earth's movement in its orbit. Inertia is the tendency of an object to remain in motion or at rest unless acted upon by an external force. In this case, the absence of the Sun's gravitational force would be the external force, and the Earth would move in a straight line in the direction of its tangential velocity.

In Which Direction Would Earth Move If the Sun's Gravitational