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EmailThe Sun Has a Lot of Pull!
The Sun makes up more than 99 percent of the total mass of the solar system. Because it is so massive, the Sun exerts a lot of gravity, or pull, on the planets—enough to make them orbit around it.
If the planets were not moving forward at a speed fast enough to balance the Sun's sideways pull, they would fall into the Sun.
The Sun's gravity is about 27.9 times that of Earth, and, in a small way, it helps to control the tides on Earth.
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By Anonymous User
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Yay! Thank you! I am doing a science fair project on the solar system and this gave me good info!
By Almanac Staff
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Glad to help!
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