question_answer

  State the source of centripetal force that a planet requires to revolve round the sun. On what factors does the force depend?  Suppose this force suddenly becomes zero,   then   in   which   direction will the planet begin to move, if no other celestial body affects it?    

Answer:

                  The source of centripetal force is the gravitation force.                                        (1) It depends upon the following factors (i) Mass of the earth and the sun. (ii) Distance between the earth and the sun.   If this force suddenly becomes zero then the planet will begin to move in a straight line in the direction in which it was moving at that instant.                                                                         (1)