What path would a planet (like Earth) take if the force of gravity from the Sun were to be suddenly removed?
A) The planet would move in a straight line tangential to its present orbit.
B) The planet would stop moving altogether because there would be no gravity acting on it.
C) The planet would move in a straight line outward, directly away from the Sun's position.
D) The planet would begin to move in a long ellipse with the Sun at one focus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Without the Sun's gravitational pull, the planet would continue moving in a straight line at the tangent to the point in its orbit where gravity was removed, according to Newton's first law of motion.

What Path Would a Planet (Like Earth) Take If the Force