If gravity between the Sun and Earth suddenly vanished, Earth would continue moving in
A)a curved path.
B)an outward spiral path.
C)an inward spiral path.
D)a straight-line path.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the gravity between the Sun and Earth suddenly vanished, Earth would continue moving in a straight-line path due to its inertia. Inertia is the tendency of an object to stay in motion in a straight line at a constant speed unless acted upon by a force. The absence of gravitational force from the Sun would not be enough to make Earth spiral inwards or outwards, as it would need a force acting on it to change its direction of motion. Therefore, the best choice is D, a straight-line path.

If Gravity Between the Sun and Earth Suddenly Vanished, Earth