Gravitational Control of Earth’s Motion | 11 Feb 2026

Source: TH 

A scientific reflection explains how gravity governs Earth’s motion, revisiting key concepts of planetary motion and centripetal force. 

• Binding Force: Gravity acts as the fundamental binding force that holds humans, oceans, the atmosphere, and all life to Earth despite the planet’s continuous movement through space. 
• Centripetal Action: Beyond causing objects to fall, gravity functions as a centripetal force, keeping the Moon in orbit around Earth and Earth revolving around the Sun. 
• Planetary Motion: Due to gravitational attraction, Earth completes one revolution around the Sun every year, travelling nearly 1 billion kilometres in its orbital path. 
  • Earth moves at an average speed of about 1,07,000 km per hour, illustrating the dynamic nature of planetary motion. 
• Absence of Friction: Unlike motion on Earth, where friction slows objects, planets move through the near-vacuum of space, where negligible resistance allows continuous motion without energy input. 
• Rejection of Aether: The Michelson–Morley experiment (1887) disproved the existence of an invisible medium called aether, confirming that Earth moves through empty space rather than a resisting substance.