* Gravity: Every object in the universe with mass exerts a gravitational pull on every other object. The Earth has a much larger mass than the Moon, so its gravitational pull is stronger.

* Centripetal Force: The Moon's motion around the Earth is not a straight line, but rather a curved path. This is because Earth's gravity is constantly pulling the Moon towards it. This inward pull is called centripetal force. The Moon's forward motion (its inertia) keeps it from falling into the Earth, creating a balance between the two forces.

Why not the Sun?

While the Sun's gravity is much stronger than Earth's, the Moon is *closer* to Earth. The strength of gravity decreases with distance, so Earth's pull on the Moon is still stronger than the Sun's pull at that distance.

Think of it like this: Imagine you're holding a ball on a string and swinging it around. The string represents Earth's gravity holding onto the Moon. You, the person swinging the ball, represent the Sun's influence. Even though you're stronger than the string, the ball is closer to the string, so it orbits around you instead of around you.