Gravitational Force: What Keeps Two Bodies From Colliding?

[RAHIL008]

If two heavenly bodies are attracted towards each other by gravitational pull,
then what stops them from colliding, as in Earth is attracted by sun's pull.

 

[Dickfore]

If you travel along a circle with a uniform speed, you must have an acceleration towards the center of the circle (centripetal acceleration). Every acceleration is caused by a force. So, if the force was exerted by the Sun to the Earth and the initial velocity of the Earth was perpendicular to their connecting line, then the Earth might revolve around the Sun in a circle. Even though it is accelerated, its speed does not change by magnitude and it always stays the same distance from the Sun.