Question

gravity is also responsible for the orbits of celestial objects beyond the solar system.
the closest star to the sun, proxima centauri, is about 4.25 light - years away. proxima centauris mass is only about 12.5% of the suns mass. despite its much smaller mass, proxima centauri does not orbit the sun. it instead orbits a pair of sun - like stars, alpha centauri a and b, which are less than 1 light - year away from it.
complete the paragraph to explain why proxima centauri does not orbit the sun.
proxima centauri is so
the sun that the suns gravity is
to pull proxima centauri into orbit around it. proxima centauri is much
two sun - like stars, alpha centauri a and b. because of this, alpha centauri a and b have a
gravitational influence on proxima centauri than the sun does. proxima centauri orbits around alpha centauri a and b, rather than orbiting the sun.

Explanation:

Gravitational pull depends on both mass and distance. Proxima Centauri is far from the Sun, weakening the Sun's gravitational effect. It is much closer to Alpha Centauri A and B, so their combined gravitational influence is stronger than the Sun's, making it orbit them instead.

Answer:

Proxima Centauri is so far from the Sun that the Sun's gravity is too weak to pull Proxima Centauri into orbit around it. Proxima Centauri is much closer to two sun-like stars, Alpha Centauri A and B. Because of this, Alpha Centauri A and B have a stronger gravitational influence on Proxima Centauri than the Sun does. Proxima Centauri orbits around Alpha Centauri A and B, rather than orbiting the Sun.