A similar question was asked to Isaac Newton.
True, he was asked not about the planets of the solar system, but about the entire Universe: why are the stars in it not merging together under the influence of gravity?
The thing is that attraction does not necessarily lead to rapprochement.
If planets, stars or galaxies were motionless, then gravity would pull them together.
But celestial bodies move, and planets, “falling” onto the Sun attracting them, because of this movement “miss” all the time past it, describing approximately circular orbits.
Moreover, the force of attraction between the planets themselves is negligible and almost does not affect their movement.
True, he was asked not about the planets of the solar system, but about the entire Universe: why are the stars in it not merging together under the influence of gravity?
The thing is that attraction does not necessarily lead to rapprochement.
If planets, stars or galaxies were motionless, then gravity would pull them together.
But celestial bodies move, and planets, “falling” onto the Sun attracting them, because of this movement “miss” all the time past it, describing approximately circular orbits.
Moreover, the force of attraction between the planets themselves is negligible and almost does not affect their movement.
