Question

The Earth is continuously pulling the Moon towards its centre. Why does the Moon not fall on to the Earth?

Answer 1

Hint: An object requires the presence of centripetal Force in order to execute circular motion.

Complete step by step solution:
An object requires the presence of centripetal Force in order to execute circular motion.
The Moon necessarily needs to have Centripetal Force acting on it while revolving around our planet Earth in a fixed orbit. Centripetal Force is also known as Center Seeking Force. The gravitational pull on the Moon due to our planet Earth provides the Moon with the centripetal Force required for performing revolutions around Earth.
Therefore, the Moon keeps on revolving around our planet Earth in a fixed orbit and does not fall back into Earth.

Note: Centripetal is composed of two words Centri (meaning Centre) and Petal (meaning Seeking). Hence Centripetal Force is always directed towards the centre of the rotational motion. Similarly, Centrifugal is composed of Centri (meaning Centre) and Fugal (meaning away). Hence centrifugal force is always directed in the opposite direction of (away from) the centre of rotation of a body.