Does the sun exert a greater force on the earth than that exerted on the sun by the earth?

1 Answer
A. S. Adikesavan · Stefan V.
Mar 6, 2016

Yes. More than #3# million times.

Explanation:

With respect to each, use

#"Force" = "Mass" xx "Acceleration" = gamma(mM)/r^2#.

So the accelerations towards the other are in the inverse ratio of their masses. The mass of the Earth #<# #"3 millionth"# of the Sun's mass.

This great centripetal acceleration towards the Sun keeps the Earth in its orbit around the Sun. I do not want to comment on the effect of the corresponding negligible Sun's acceleration towards Earth without knowing about the perturbations. If any. It is cumulative of all such forces from all the solar orbiters, near and far, and small and big.

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