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Physics 16 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

what would happen to the orbit of planets if the sun went out

OpenStudy (anonymous):

It depends - is the Sun still there but no longer shining?! If the Sun was 'removed', then the planets would fly off at a tangent to the orbit they were taking. Other gravitational interactions would also occur but they would be small. Does that help?

OpenStudy (anonymous):

There is no effect on orbits of the planets. This is because the orbits are not formed by the heat of the sun, they are formed by the gravitational forces between the sun and the planets.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

but if the sun was no longer shinning would it still do the same thin if the sun was removed

OpenStudy (anonymous):

if the suns mass was there, they stay in orbit, whether it is shining or not. No sun, no gravity, no orbits.

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