How Do Planets Stay in Their Orbits?

Planets are like balls on a string. The sun is the hand holding the string, and the planet keeps moving in a circle because it’s already going fast. If the string was cut, the ball would fly off, just like if gravity wasn’t there, planets might drift away or fall into the sun.

The sun pulls on the planet with gravity, but the planet is also moving forward. This balance keeps it going in a loop instead of falling straight down. It’s like when you swing around in circles, gravity pulls you toward the center, but your motion keeps you from falling all the way.