Question icon
Grade 12th passMechanics

In case of sun and earth, how are the gravitational and centrepetal force working?
are both of them same?if not how are they different?

Profile image of shubham
12 Years agoGrade 12th pass
Answers icon

1 Answer

Profile image of Dinesh
ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer12 Years ago
The Sun, Earth, moon and all other objects in the solar system attract each other with a force called gravity. This gravitational force only attracts and never repels and can act over an infinite distance.
Centripetal force is the force, which keeps the objects in a circular or any curved path. The centripetal force always acts "radially inwards" ("directed towards the centre")
• Gravitational force only occurs between two masses.
• A centripetal force is required in any nonlinear motion.
• The gravitational force acts as the centripetal force for the planetary movements.
• Gravitational force creates both linear and nonlinear movements, but the centripetal force only creates nonlinear movements.
Thanks & Regards,
Dinesh Sajnani
AskIITians Faculty