If the moon attracts the earth, why does the earth not move towards the moon?

Answer

The moon attracts the earth with the same gravitational force as the earth attracts the moon.

But the mass of earth is much larger than the mass of the moon.

We know that,

Force = Mass × Acceleration.

Hence,

Acceleration = Force/Mass

Since the mass of earth is very large, the acceleration produced is negligible.

Therefore, the earth does not move towards the moon.

 

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CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo