125k views
2 votes
Suppose the sun were to suddenly disappear. what would happen to the orbital path of earth

User Shanish
by
7.1k points

2 Answers

1 vote
the earth will start moving tangentially to its previous orbit due to lack of centripetal force which was being provided by the sun's gravitational pull.

I hope this helps
User Kousalya
by
6.2k points
2 votes
It would follow a path perpendicular to the radius of its current orbit
User Warriorpostman
by
6.4k points