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Circles are special cases of elliptical orbits, where the radius remains the same length all the way around. Ellipses are more natural, considering the way solar systems form. The debris around a star coalesces to form planets. As these grow larger, they slightly perturb the orbits of their neighbors. Sometimes planetesimals (small components of planets) crash together to form a larger sphere. This can induce increasingly greater deviations from a circular orbit, as well as causing axial tilt.
Planets have elliptical orbits rather than perfect circular orbits due to the way gravitational forces work in the solar system. The fundamental reason for this is the influence of gravity, which is governed by Newton's law of universal gravitation.
When a planet orbits a star (such as our Sun), both the planet and the star exert gravitational forces on each other. These forces determine the shape of the planet's orbit. Here's why planets have elliptical orbits:
1. Gravitational Attraction: According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, every object with mass attracts every other object with mass. This attraction is stronger when the masses are larger and decreases as the distance between the masses increases.
2. Conservation of Angular Momentum: As a planet forms from a swirling cloud of gas and dust, it has some initial angular momentum, which is a measure of its rotation and orbital motion combined. This angular momentum is conserved throughout the planet's formation and evolution.
3. Centripetal Force: As the planet moves in its orbit, it experiences a centripetal force directed toward the center of the star. This force is necessary to keep the planet in orbit and is provided by the gravitational attraction between the planet and the star.
4. Variability of Gravitational Force: The gravitational force between the planet and the star varies as the distance between them changes during the orbit. When the planet is closer to the star (perihelion), the gravitational force is stronger, and when it is farther away (aphelion), the gravitational force is weaker.
5. Elliptical Orbits: The combination of the planet's initial angular momentum and the varying strength of gravitational forces as it moves in its orbit results in an elliptical shape. An ellipse is a type of elongated circle where the distance between two foci (in this case, the star) remains constant.
In some cases, orbits may appear almost circular, especially for planets that have relatively small eccentricities (a measure of how elongated the ellipse is). For example, the orbits of the planets in our solar system are nearly circular but still slightly elliptical.
Reference: AnswerChamp
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What has elliptical orbits?
As an elliptical orbit is any orbit that isn't perfectly circular, everything has an elliptical orbit. The planets Mercury and Pluto have the most elliptical orbits of the planets, and are easily seen to be oval shaped. Comets also have highly elliptical orbits.
Are the orbit of planets circular and How may their path be best described?
No, the orbits of planets are not perfectly circular but are elliptical in shape. The path of planets around the Sun can be best described using Kepler's laws of planetary motion, which state that planets move in elliptical paths with the Sun at one of the foci of the ellipse.
Do all planets have eliptical orbits?
No, not all planets have elliptical orbits. While most planets in our solar system have nearly circular orbits, some planets, like Mercury and Pluto, have more elliptical orbits. Additionally, exoplanets outside our solar system can have a variety of orbital shapes.
Why your planets revolve in elliptical orbit rather than circular orbit?
Planets revolve in elliptical orbits due to the gravitational influence of other bodies in the solar system. As planets interact with each other, their orbits can become elongated or slightly off-center, leading to elliptical shapes rather than perfect circles. This is a result of the complex dynamics of the solar system.
What is the shape of the orbits of the planets around the sun?
The orbits of the planets around the sun are generally elliptical in shape, with the sun located at one of the foci of the ellipse. This means that the distance between the planet and the sun varies during its orbit.
What evidence do you have that the planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun and not in circular orbits?
Elliptical orbits of the planets around the sun actually match what we observe. Newton's Theory of Universal Gravitation states that planets will move around the sun in elliptical orbits.
What has elliptical orbits?
As an elliptical orbit is any orbit that isn't perfectly circular, everything has an elliptical orbit. The planets Mercury and Pluto have the most elliptical orbits of the planets, and are easily seen to be oval shaped. Comets also have highly elliptical orbits.
Are the orbit of planets circular and How may their path be best described?
No, the orbits of planets are not perfectly circular but are elliptical in shape. The path of planets around the Sun can be best described using Kepler's laws of planetary motion, which state that planets move in elliptical paths with the Sun at one of the foci of the ellipse.
Do all planets have eliptical orbits?
No, not all planets have elliptical orbits. While most planets in our solar system have nearly circular orbits, some planets, like Mercury and Pluto, have more elliptical orbits. Additionally, exoplanets outside our solar system can have a variety of orbital shapes.
Does all planets have elliptical orbits?
Yes, none of the planets in our solar system have exactly circular orbits, though some are more eccentric than others.
Why your planets revolve in elliptical orbit rather than circular orbit?
Planets revolve in elliptical orbits due to the gravitational influence of other bodies in the solar system. As planets interact with each other, their orbits can become elongated or slightly off-center, leading to elliptical shapes rather than perfect circles. This is a result of the complex dynamics of the solar system.
What shape are the planets orbits?
The planets in our solar system orbit the Sun in elliptical paths, which are elongated circles. These orbits are shaped by the gravitational pull of the Sun and the planets themselves, following Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
Do planets orbit the sun in a circular direction?
No. Planets orbit the Sun (or some other star) in ellipses.
Why do planets have circular and elliptical motions in the solar system?
The scientific explanation lies in Kepler's laws of planetary motions, which were discovered by Newton to be linked with the law of gravity. All the planets have elliptical orbits, and many of those are close being circular.
Are the orbit of planets circular How may their path be best described?
The orbits of planets are actually elliptical, not perfectly circular. An ellipse is a stretched-out circle. The shape of a planet's orbit can be described as an ellipse with the Sun at one of the two foci.
If the planets' orbits were circular would their distance from the sun always be the same?
Yes. However, the orbits of all planets are elliptical. Some planets, like Earth, have a very low "eccentricity", which is a measure of how non-circular they are. Earth's orbit is not quite circular, but fairly close. Other planets, like Mars, have more eccentric orbits, and their perihelion and aphelion distances are substantially different.
Among elliptical orbits are some more circular than others?
Yes some elliptical orbits are more circular than others
