answersLogoWhite

0

The elliptical orbit of planets is a result of the gravitation of the sun and the tangential velocity of the planet.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Astronomy

Who explained that the combination of inertia and gravity cause the elliptical shapes of orbits?

Johannes Kepler explained that the combination of inertia and gravity cause the elliptical shapes of orbits in his laws of planetary motion. His work laid the foundation for the understanding of how celestial bodies move in space.


Why do planets go in elliptical orbits and not in circular orbits?

Planets go in elliptical orbits rather than circular orbits due to the gravitational pull of the Sun. According to Kepler's laws of planetary motion, planets move in elliptical paths with the Sun at one of the foci. This is a result of the inverse square law of gravity, which causes the gravitational force between the Sun and the planet to vary as the distance between them changes along the elliptical path. In a circular orbit, the gravitational force would need to be constant, which is not the case in reality.


Why don't planets collide?

Planets do not collide because of gravitational forces that keep them in stable orbits around the sun. These gravitational forces cause planets to travel in predictable paths without intersecting each other's orbits. Additionally, the vast distances between planets in our solar system help prevent collisions.


The true shape of planetary orbits was discovered by?

Johannes Kepler was the first person to prove that all of the planets are in elliptical orbits, but he was unable to propose any mechanism that would cause this. Based largely on Kepler's work, Isaac Newton was able to invent the calculus of infinitesimals and to propose his law of universal gravitation, providing a mechanism that would cause the planets to behave in accordance with Kepler's laws. Newton's later comment "If I have seen further than other men, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants" was in direct reference to Kepler's essential contributions.


Small changes in the orbits of planets caused by the gravitational pull of the other planets in the solar system are called?

Perturbations. These small changes can cause slight variations in a planet's orbital path due to the gravitational influences of other planets.

Related Questions

What forces cause the planets to go around the sun and stay in their orbits?

The force of gravity between the planets and the sun is what keeps the planets in their orbits. Gravity pulls the planets towards the sun, but their forward velocity keeps them moving in a circular or elliptical path around it. This balance between gravity and velocity enables the planets to stay in their orbits around the sun.


What did Kepler demonstrate with planets revolutions around the sun?

Johannes Kepler discovered that planet orbits were elliptical and not circular.


Why the planets not colliding each other?

The planets in the solar system are in well-spaced out, stable, roughly circular orbits - they don't come close enough to collide with each other. Asteroids and comets, however, are on more elliptical, unstable orbits that often cross the orbits of the planets, and sometimes planets collide with asteroids and comets.


Why planets and moons of planets stay in their orbits?

The forces of gravity between two masses are the cause of all orbits.


What causes planetary perturbation?

Planetary perturbations are caused by gravitational interactions between planets in a solar system. These interactions can cause the orbits of planets to deviate from their ideal elliptical paths and lead to variations in their positions over time. The most significant perturbations typically occur when planets come close to each other in their orbits.


Who explained that the combination of inertia and gravity cause the elliptical shapes of orbits?

Johannes Kepler explained that the combination of inertia and gravity cause the elliptical shapes of orbits in his laws of planetary motion. His work laid the foundation for the understanding of how celestial bodies move in space.


Why do planets go in elliptical orbits and not in circular orbits?

Planets go in elliptical orbits rather than circular orbits due to the gravitational pull of the Sun. According to Kepler's laws of planetary motion, planets move in elliptical paths with the Sun at one of the foci. This is a result of the inverse square law of gravity, which causes the gravitational force between the Sun and the planet to vary as the distance between them changes along the elliptical path. In a circular orbit, the gravitational force would need to be constant, which is not the case in reality.


Why don't planets collide?

Planets do not collide because of gravitational forces that keep them in stable orbits around the sun. These gravitational forces cause planets to travel in predictable paths without intersecting each other's orbits. Additionally, the vast distances between planets in our solar system help prevent collisions.


How does big bang start?

At this point in our understanding of our Universe, we are like Johannes Kepler after having observed that planets orbit our Sun in ellipses. We know the "what" (our Universe 13.7 billion years ago was denser and has been expanding ever since) but we don't know the cause behind it. Just like we had to wait for a century to find out the cause of elliptical orbits (Newton's Law of Gravity), we'll just have to wait to understand the origin of the Big Bang. Thankfully, nobody at Kepler's time said, "Because you can't explain the CAUSE of elliptical planetary orbits, they must not be a correct description of our Universe."


The true shape of planetary orbits was discovered by?

Johannes Kepler was the first person to prove that all of the planets are in elliptical orbits, but he was unable to propose any mechanism that would cause this. Based largely on Kepler's work, Isaac Newton was able to invent the calculus of infinitesimals and to propose his law of universal gravitation, providing a mechanism that would cause the planets to behave in accordance with Kepler's laws. Newton's later comment "If I have seen further than other men, it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants" was in direct reference to Kepler's essential contributions.


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

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


Why planets do not collide with each other although there is strong gravitational force between them?

Planets do not collide with each other because they orbit around the Sun in stable paths called orbits. These orbits are a balance between the speed of the planet and the gravitational pull of the Sun. The gravitational force between planets is not strong enough to overcome the momentum of their orbits and cause them to collide.