question_answer

The gravitational force exerted by the sun on the moon is greater than (about twice as great as) the gravitational force exerted by the earth on the moon. Why then doesn't the moon escape from the earth (during a solar eclipse, for example)?

Answer:

                The moon can escape only if the moon has no orbital motion. In fact, while revolving around the earth, the moon has orbital motion around the sun also. The gravitational attraction of the sun on the moon provides the centripetal force required for the orbital motion around the sun.