What is the name of the force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?

The force that keeps planets in orbit around the Sun is gravity. Gravity is a fundamental force of nature that attracts two bodies towards each other, with the strength of this attraction depending on their masses and the distance between them. In the case of the solar system, the Sun's immense mass generates a gravitational pull that affects the motion of the planets and keeps them in their elliptical orbits.

As planets move through space, they are not simply on a straight path; instead, the continuous pull of gravity from the Sun ensures that they remain in orbit rather than flying off into space. This interplay between the forward motion of the planets (essentially their inertia) and the gravitational pull of the Sun creates a stable orbital path.

Other forces such as friction or magnetism are not responsible for this celestial phenomenon. Friction primarily affects motion on surfaces, while magnetism deals with magnetic fields and forces, which are not significant at the scale of planetary orbits. Inertia plays a role in maintaining the motion of the planets but does not itself provide the necessary forces to keep them in orbit. The combination of inertia and gravity results in the balanced orbits observed in the solar system.