Question

If we could stop a planet for just an instant and then let it go, what would happen to it?

It would spiral away from the sun into space.
It would remain motionless.
It would fall into the sun.
It would continue orbiting the sun.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

If we were able to stop a planet for just an instant and then let it go, it would continue orbiting the sun.

This is because the motion of a planet is determined by a balance between its inertia and the gravitational pull of the sun. In this scenario, when we stop the planet, we are momentarily halting its forward motion in its orbit. However, as soon as we release it, the gravitational force from the sun would act on the planet again, causing it to resume its orbit. The planet would continue along its original path, maintaining the same orbital characteristics it had before being stopped.

Therefore, the correct statement is that the planet would continue orbiting the sun.