Explain Like I'm Five | Don't Panic!

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The original was posted on /r/explainlikeimfive by /u/big_zk on 2023-06-27 04:02:03+00:00.

Gravity is a force that pulls objects together, and the strength of that force depends on the mass of the objects and the distance between them. The Moon is constantly being pulled towards the Earth by its gravity, but it's also moving forward at a fast enough speed that it's able to "miss" the Earth and keep going in a circular path. This is called an orbit. If the Moon were to slow down or speed up, it would either crash into the Earth or fly off into space. Gravity is what keeps the Moon in a stable orbit around the Earth, and it's the same force that keeps all the planets in our solar system orbiting around the Sun.