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Answered 2012-04-25 13:29:18
What caused this obliquity (axial tilt) is still not clearly understood - and probably never will be.
During the early periods of the Earths formation, slight differences in the distribution of matter may well have caused irregularities in the balance of the planet, but this is unlikely to have caused such a large tilt.
The most likely explanation, is that early in the formation of the Earth, it was struck by a rogue planet - called Theia. (About the size of Mars). It struck, at an angle of about 45 degrees, (Debris from this collision made the Moon). This collision would almost certainly have pushed its obliquity (axial tilt) away from almost near vertical.
We only have to look at Mercury and Venus to see that their tilt is almost near to vertical,
It also seems, that the Moon also keeps the Earths tilt fairly constant. Without the Moon, the tilt would alter quite considerably over time.
See related link for more information.
Anonymous
Answered 2020-10-19 13:28:35
Theia crashed into what is earth and made it break all the meteorite pieces and melted to form the moon.
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Related Questions
What is caused on earth due to the tilt of the axis?
Seasons.
If Earth had no tilt how would that affect the seasons?
No tilt = no seasons. Seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis.
Why revolution is called annual movement of the earth?
It is caused by the earths tilt on its axis.
Change of season caused by rotation of earth or revolution of earth or revolution of sun?
Change of seasons is caused by the tilt of the earth's axis.
Why earth moves arround the sun on his axis?
most scientists believed that the moon was a planet that crashed into earth and that may have caused it to tilt on its axis.
What makes a place on earth hot or cold?
It is seasons caused, by Earth's tilt on its axis.
Why is the temperature cooler in the winter and hotter in the summer?
tilt of the earth on its axis. tilt of the earth on its axis.
Are the seasons caused by the movement of Earth's axis?
The seasons are cause by the tilt of the axis of the Earth. The rotation about axis itself moves very little
Does the earth tilt on its side because of its axis?
The reason for the earth tilt is not fully understood, but it is generally believed it was caused by collisions with other planetary bodies during the earth's formation. It does not tilt because of its axis. The axis is an invisible line running from north to south through the center of the earth. This axis is titled probably due to the mentioned collisions.
How does the tilt of the earth affect the weather in Melbourne?
The same way it affects most of earth. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the earth's axis relative to the plane of its orbit.
How the movements of earth cause day night and changes in seasons?
Day and night is caused by the rotation of the earth about its axis. Seasons are caused by the axial tilt of the earth
Would there be day and night if the earth's axis was not tilted?
Yes. Day and night are caused by the rotation of the Earth on it's axis and has nothing to do with it's tilt. The tilt has an effect on seasons.
Are the seasons caused by tilt in the earth s axis?
its because of the timeing and day light of the seasons
True or false the tilt of earth's axis as earth revolves around the sun causes an eclipse?
False. The tilt of the Earth's axis causes the seasons.Eclipses are caused by the shadow of the Earth falling on the Moon, or the shadow of the Moon hitting the Earth.
What is the tilt on earth s axis?
The earth spins on a 21* axis
How much is the tilt of the earth axis?
The earth axis's tilt is 23.5 degrees.
What caused the Earth to tilt on its axis?
It is simply that the Earth, while orbiting round the Sun, has a bit of a wobble. It is this wobble that causes the tilting on its axis, so causing the seasons.
What countries have continuous daylight and darkness during a season?
The earth Axis Tilt The end. The earth Axis Tilt The end.
What is it about the earth that causes seaaons?
It's tilt The tilt of its axis
How does the revolution of earth affect its tilt?
The revolution of the earth defines its tilt. The "tilt" is the angle between the axis of rotation of the earth and the axis of its revolution around the sun. Both these axes must exist to define the tilt. If the earth did not rotate on an axis of its own, or if it did not revolve around the sun, it would be meaningless to speak of a tilt.
The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis combined with its movement around the?
The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis combined with its movement around the SUN.
True or false seasons are caused by the distance the earth is from the sun at different times in its orbit?
False. The seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis.
Tilt of the earth?
the tilt of the earth is when earth tilts on its axis and revolve around the sun by gravitational pull.
Does the moon tilt on its axis?
yes it tilts at about 7 degrees. 23 degrees is the tilt of earth axis.
Are seasons caused by the tilt of the earth's axis '?
Yes.
