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Planets' orbits are all forms of conic section, the curve formed by intersecting a plane with a symmetrical circular cone.
The shape of a conic section is defined by a parameter called eccentricity, written as e. In order of eccentricity the four orbital shapes are: circles (e=0), ellipses (0<e<1), parabolas (e=1) and hyperbolas (e>1). Planets' orbits are ellipses with e less than 0.1, so they are approximately circular. You can only get a hyperbolic orbit with a body coming in at high speed from outside the solar system, which is extremely rare.
You can make conic sections by shining a torch on a wall (a torch with a old fashioned bulb, not LEDs). It produces a cone of light, and the wall gives the intersection, so on the wall you can create those four shapes. Shining it straight at the wall gives a circle, slightly off gives an ellipse, then with one side of the cone parallel to the wall you get a parabola, and turning it further creates a hyperbola.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoAll planets are essentially Spherical. This is because gravity compacts mass as tightly as possible, and a Sphere has the greatest volume for a given size of object.
It is worth noting, however, that if a planet is liquid enough (gas giants, hot terrestrial planets), and spinning fast enough, the planet will be wider across the equator than through the poles.
Saturn is visibly oblate (the equator is 10% wider than the polar diameter).
It is unlikely that a planet could be much more oblate than that. If Saturn spun much faster (11 hours per day), it would simply fly apart.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoWe are learning this right now in Earth Science in 8th grade, and our book says it is an elongated circle, or an oval.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe planets are all round in shape, but they differ in sizes.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoEvery planet looks different!
They look different in shape, size and colour!
If you really want to know search them up in Google images!
Hope my answer helped!
Wiki User
∙ 13y agojust like an Orange
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoAn ellipse, with the sun at one focus.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoSpherical
Anonymous
The sun is kinda oval when u zoom in that's what I seen
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What are inner planet shapes?
The inner planets have a spherical shape. In fact all planets are more or less spherical.
What is the shape of all 8 planets in our solar system?
They are all nearly spheres, but they all bulge out at the equator.
Are all planets and stars shape like circle?
All planets and stars are approximately spherical in shape, a shape formed under their own gravity. Most are `oblate` spheroids though, squashed spheres, since their rotation can cause them to `bulge` out at the equator if it is sufficient enough.
What shape do planets trace as they orbit around the sun?
Planets orbit the sun in the shape of an ellipse, which is an elongated circle similar to an oval. When it was first discovered that the Sun is the center of the solar system, it was thought that all the planets had a circular orbit, but the calculations didn't fit.
Is Mars round?
The planet Mars is round in shape. All of the planets in our solar system are orbits. The gravitational pull of the sun has formed the planets to be around.
What is the typiccall shape of the planets?
Planets are all spherical.
What are the characterstics of Planets?
all planets have a circular shape
What shape are planet?
The inner planets have a spherical shape. In fact all planets are more or less spherical.
Which planets orbital shape is similar to Jupiter?
All planets in our solar system have elliptical orbits.
An oval like shape that is used to describe the orbit of planets?
Mars, and all the other planets, have oval-shaped, or eliptical, orbits.
Is there a planet that is a rectangular shape?
No all planets are almost perfect spheres
What are inner planet shapes?
The inner planets have a spherical shape. In fact all planets are more or less spherical.
What is the orital shape of the planets in our solar system?
All of the planets in our solar system have an elliptical orbit around the sun.
What is the shape of all 8 planets in our solar system?
They are all nearly spheres, but they all bulge out at the equator.
What is the shape of Neptune's path?
all of the planets have the same elliptical shaped orbit.
Are all planets and stars shape like circle?
All planets and stars are approximately spherical in shape, a shape formed under their own gravity. Most are `oblate` spheroids though, squashed spheres, since their rotation can cause them to `bulge` out at the equator if it is sufficient enough.
What is the shape of a planets orbit and in which direction do all planets revolve?
Planetary orbits are eliptical, that is they are shaped as elipses. All planets revolve around the sun anti-clockwise as viewed from Earth's north pole.
