Why the solar system can exist

If gravity is so attractive, why doesn't the earth just crash into the sun? Or the moon into the earth?

The answer: Stable Orbits

hyperbolic funnel video: http://bit.ly/r5xhng

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Minute Physics provides an energetic and entertaining view of old and new problems in physics -- all in a minute!

Music by Nathaniel Schroeder

Thanks to Perimeter Institute for support.
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• Category

  Science & Technology

[kaw tar]

I invite you to read the present in truthcontest website if you want to know answers for the big questions about life and death

[Aviv Adler]

As I understand it, the way gravity changes over distance is similar to light intensity. Consider an object which emits a constant amount L of light, and stand a distance r from it. If the object is in 2d, the amount L is spread over 2*pi*r of surface at distance r, so intensity at any point is proportional to L/r. In 3d, intensity is proportional to L/(r^2). And in 4d, intensity is proportional to L/(r^3). So in 4d, moving closer to the object has a more dramatic effect on gravity than in 3d.

[Liam H]

We are luck we aren't 4d!

[ThornTheBranch]

Wondering the same...

[Cruz Rodriguez]

>implying anyone cares

[stylishlpsgirls chance]

wow im 10 years old and i all ready knew this

[Seamless Robe]

The Earth is spiralling towards the Sun, but never catches it because as the Planets free-fall towards the Sun the Sun free-falls around the equatorial plane of the galaxy, spiralling up and down in a process known as precession.

[Ligue Depeche]

bots

[amassi2010]

Quran of Muslims says interesting physics facts ..

just check them ...

[Zarnirox]

What I'd like to know is why your comment was flagged as spam. You weren't a dick or anything. All you did was ask a question.

[Gomez william c]

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