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The simplest form for a liquid is a sphere. The force of surface tension pulls to form an equilibrium shape which is spherical. Look at the shape a bubble forms into! With a planet there are different forces at work, but the same result. Einsteins explanation of relativity explains why bodies in space of great mass form spheres. The fabric of space/time is bent around huge objects. This causes gravity to act uniformly in a sphere. If a rocky planet somehow was made in a cube, there would be tremendous gravitational forces trying to crush it into a sphere! Corey Wood

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Above a certain mass and radius, the self-gravity of the object overcomes the yield strength of even the strongest solid materials. The surface may still be irregular, but overburden pressure causes the rocks deep inside to deform until the planet has a stable spherical shape. For solid bodies, that occurs between 200km and 300km radius, depending on the density and strength of the materials. Dwarf planets, moons and asteroids with radii less than 200km may be more potato-shaped. It doesn't really have anything to do with relativity, as the 300km limit can be proven with basic mechanical formulas.

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Q: How mass and gravity cause planets to be round?
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Related questions

Why is the world roundWhy not square or something?

Gravity is the reason all planets are round. The pull of gravity from the sun fought the gravity from whithin a planet to create a round mass.


Where do the planets get gravity?

Planets have gravity because they have mass.


Does this planet have gravity?

All mass produces a gravity field. All planets have mass. Therefore all planets have gravity.


Why do all the planets have different fields of gravity?

Gravity is a function of mass. All the planets have different mass, so different gravity.


How are planets and sun are alike?

They tend to be round, spherical objects which are visible in space. They have great mass and their own gravity.


Does the sun give planets gravity?

No. Planets have gravity as a result of their own mass.


Do dwarf planets have gravity?

Of course. Everything that has mass has gravity.


What planets have large gravity?

Planets with a large amount of mass.


Why planets are round in shape?

Gravity. It pulls the various parts of the object toward the center. Gravity increases with mass. Extremely massive objects, like planets and the larger asteroids, have enough gravity that the object must assume a roughly spherical shape.


How does gravity affect the relationship between the sun and the planets?

Yes. It keeps the planets in orbit around the Sun.


Where does the gravity that holds the planets in their orbits come from?

The gravity that keeps the planets in orbit is the sun's gravity, which is a product of the sun's mass.


Where is gravity?

The force of gravity is pretty much everywhere: if a mass is attracted to another mass, that is probably gravity. The source of gravity is mass, if you mean that. It's only really apparent from large masses such as planets, moons or stars. Since most of these are round (and rotationally symmetric), for calculation purposes you can consider the source of gravity to be at their center.