Here's why:
* Gravity: The Sun's gravity pulls on Earth, keeping it in orbit.
* Centripetal force: Earth's motion around the Sun creates a centrifugal force that balances the Sun's gravitational pull. This balance keeps the Earth from falling into the Sun.
* Elliptical path: The Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular, it's slightly elliptical. This means the Earth's distance from the Sun varies slightly throughout the year.
If the Earth were to orbit *towards* the Sun, it would eventually collide with it!
