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A planet's orbit could be a perfect circle in theory because a circle is a special case of an ellipse with an eccentricity of zero. However it is very rare and the planets all have a significant amount of eccentricity in their orbits, even though the amount of 'squashing' of the ellipse's shape is extremely small for most planets.
Isaac newton proposed an inverse-square law for the Sun's gravitational force (in other words, at double the distance the force is one quarter as much). He was able to show by theory alone that if the gravity is indeed inverse-square, then the planets' orbits must be elliptical and must follow Kepler's three laws of planetary motion.
This convinced Newton that gravity must be inverse-square and the laws of motion must be right and Kepler's theory must also be right. These discoveries, which required the development of a new mathematical technique now called differential calculus, are recognised as so monumental as to put Newton at the top of the tree of distinguished physicists of the last 300 years, and they marked the beginnings of the new science of theoretical physics.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoOrbits are typically elliptical; ellipses are symmetrical. Of course, they change over time.If you mean, why are they not perfectly CIRCULAR, the reason is that a perfectly circular orbit can only be achieved with a very specific speed. If you increase or decrease the speed slightly (as compared with a hypothetical circular orbit), the circle will change to an ellipse.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Oh but they are ! Gravitational orbits are ellipses, and the major axis and minor axis of
an ellipse are both axes of symmetry.
If you're asking why orbits are not perfect circles, that's a different question. When you take
Newton's formula for the law of universal gravitation, and massage and manipulate it with
geometry and calculus, you discover that closed gravitational orbits are possible, and that
every one of them is an ellipse, with no limits on the size or eccentricity of the ellipse ... those
are determined by the gravity and kinetic energy available in each pair of orbiting bodies.
Every ellipse is a possible gravitational orbit. A perfect circle is one special case of ellipse,
out of the infinite number of possibilities, and it too is a possible orbit. I would only say that
the desire for circular orbits is very restrictive. The reason you don't see any perfectly circular
gravitational orbits is that it's one special shape out of an infinite number of possibilities,
so its chances are very small ... maybe something like the probability of dropping a whole
unwrapped tube of pennies on the floor and having them all land standing on their edges.
It's possible, but don't hold your breath.
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Why planets' orbits are elliptical and not circular?
The solar system condensed out of an interstellar dust cloud; the original cloud was not a perfectly symmetrical object, either in shape or in composition, and as it condensed, the result was not neat or orderly; there were lots of collisions as well as near misses that altered planetary orbits.
Do electrons revolve around the nucleus of an atom in perfect circular orbits?
i believe they revolve around in more of a oval shape. not perfectly circular.
What object or image best illustrates radial symmetry?
An object or image that best illustrates radial symmetry is a snowflake. But, a snowflake is not perfectly symmetrical; it only appears to be perfect to the naked eye.
What Orbits and is Orbited?
Earth. It orbits the sun and the moon orbits it
What does eccentricity mean to an astronomer?
A bodies eccentricity is a measure of how circular the orbit of that body is. Perfectly circular orbits have the lowest eccentricity, of 0, whereas orbits such as that of the dwarf planet Pluto are more eccentric. When there are multiple large bodies in an orbit, with smaller bodies orbiting multiple of these, the eccentricities of the smaller bodies are quite high.
Why planets' orbits are elliptical and not circular?
The solar system condensed out of an interstellar dust cloud; the original cloud was not a perfectly symmetrical object, either in shape or in composition, and as it condensed, the result was not neat or orderly; there were lots of collisions as well as near misses that altered planetary orbits.
Is the brain symmetrical?
No. There is very little, if any, symmetry in the human body. For example, even your eyes are not perfectly symmetrical.
Can you have sentence using the word symmetrical?
Unlike humans starfish has different symmetrical shape. It is just like a star.
In a perfectly symmetrical bell-shaped normal distribution?
Normal distribution is a perfectly symmetrical bell-shaped normal distribution. The bell curve is used to find the median, mean and mode of a function.
Are naturally occurring objects seldom perfectly symmetrical?
yes they mother freaker are
Are all faces symmertical?
For the most part faces are symmetrical, but not perfectly. In fact, research shows that the more symmetrical a persons face is, the more attractive they are.
Are naturally occurring objects seldom perfectly symmetrical - true or false?
True
What if one tonsil is bigger?
Doesnt have to mean a thing. Bodies are rarely perfectly symmetrical.
Why do you have more hair on the right side of your chest?
Bodies aren't perfectly symmetrical, don't worry about it.
Why is the Villa La Rotunda considered by many to be Andrea Palladio's masterpiece?
Its design is perfectly symmetrical
What is a perfectly symmetrical that has no edges or vertices and not a polyherdron all points on the surface are equal surface from the center?
Sphere
Is it normal for kidneys to be different sizes?
Some difference is perfectly fine, bodies aren't entirely symmetrical.
