Suppose the sun were to suddenly disappear. what would happen to the orbital path of earth? it would stay the same, but the earth would speed up. it would stay the same, but the earth would slow down. it would follow a path perpendicular to the radius of its current orbit. it would spiral outward in an ever-increasing orbit.

Question

Physics

Alma Choi

23 July, 23:31

Suppose the sun were to suddenly disappear. what would happen to the orbital path of earth? it would stay the same, but the earth would speed up. it would stay the same, but the earth would slow down. it would follow a path perpendicular to the radius of its current orbit. it would spiral outward in an ever-increasing orbit.

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Mallory Mays · Answer 1

C: It would follow a path perpendicular to the radius of its current orbit

When there is nothing to keep it going in circles, it will stop moving in circles around the sun and continue in a straight path. Think of it as a catapult. If the stick stops, the rock keeps flying straight at the speed and direction it was flung.