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Planets orbit the sun because gravity keeps them from escaping, and momentum keeps them moving forward.
The orbits are elliptical, which is like an oval.
What else can I help you with?
What has elliptical orbits?
As an elliptical orbit is any orbit that isn't perfectly circular, everything has an elliptical orbit. The planets Mercury and Pluto have the most elliptical orbits of the planets, and are easily seen to be oval shaped. Comets also have highly elliptical orbits.
How do the orbits of comets differ from the orbits of most asteroids?
Comets are balls of ice and dust in orbit around the Sun. The orbits of comets are different from those of planets - they are elliptical. A comet's orbit takes it very close to the Sun and then far away again.
Do planets travel at the same speed as they orbit the sun?
No. The the planets closest to the sun orbit the fastest. Mercury, the first planet from the sun orbits at about 107,000 mph. Earth orbits at about 65,000 mph, and Neptune, the farthest planet, orbits at about 12,000 mph.
Which fact is true of superior planets?
The terms "inferior planet" and "superior planet" were originally used in the geocentric cosmology of Claudius Ptolemy to differentiate those planets (Mercury and Venus) that were between the stationary Earth and the orbiting Sun from those planets (Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn), which lay beyond the Sun's orbit.The terms are now used with the heliocentric model."Inferior Planets" have orbits closer to the Sun than the Earth's orbit.They are Mercury and Venus.The "Superior Planets" have orbits outside the Earth's orbit.They are Mars,Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.So, the meaning is slightly different from "Inner Planets" and "Outer Planets".
What are chunks of rock and metal that orbit between the planets?
Those are called satellites.
What relatinionship are there between the distance of the planets to the sun and theirn orbit shape?
The distance of a planet from the sun influences the shape of its orbit. Planets with larger distances have more elliptical orbits, while those closer to the sun tend to have nearly circular orbits. This relationship is described by Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
What is the orital shape of the planets in our solar system?
The planets in our solar system have an elliptical (oval) orbit around the Sun. This orbital shape is a result of the gravitational forces between the planets and the Sun. Planets closer to the Sun have shorter and more circular orbits, while those farther away have longer and more elliptical orbits.
What has elliptical orbits?
As an elliptical orbit is any orbit that isn't perfectly circular, everything has an elliptical orbit. The planets Mercury and Pluto have the most elliptical orbits of the planets, and are easily seen to be oval shaped. Comets also have highly elliptical orbits.
How do the orbits of comets differ from the orbits of most asteroids?
Comets are balls of ice and dust in orbit around the Sun. The orbits of comets are different from those of planets - they are elliptical. A comet's orbit takes it very close to the Sun and then far away again.
What is it called when two planets switch orbit?
planets dont "switch" orbit, but there are those that orbit each other, and those, like mars, that have retrograde motion, which makes it appear to orbit backwards
What is the Trojan planets that revolve around the sun in the lagrangianpoints of Jupiter's orbit?
They are simply asteroids. Sometimes they are called "minor planets", but they are much smaller than planets, of course. The Trojans can orbit where they do because those places are suitable for stable orbits.
Can you explain how the sun's gravity influences the motion and orbits of the planets in our solar system?
The sun's gravity affects the motion and orbits of planets in our solar system by keeping them in orbit around it. The gravitational pull of the sun keeps the planets moving in their elliptical orbits, preventing them from flying off into space. The strength of the sun's gravity decreases with distance, so planets closer to the sun orbit faster than those farther away. This gravitational force is what keeps the planets in their stable orbits around the sun.
Do comets orbit the sun in the same direction?
The orbits of comets are much more irregular than those of planets. Probably the majority do orbit in the same direction, but it's not a sure thing.
What are the 4 differences between the comet's orbit and those of most of the planets?
A comets orbit is highly eccentric, spending most of its time far out on the edge of the solar system and occasionally coming in closer to the sun. Planets orbits are more regular, closer to a circular orbit. A comets orbit also crosses the paths of planets, while each of the eight planets have their own orbit and don't cross paths. A comet does not usually orbit the sun on the same plane as the planets. Each of the planets orbits the sun more or less on the same plane. Due to the varying distance from the sun, the orbital speed of a comet varies greatly. Closer to the sun it travels quickly, far out on the edge of the solar system it will move much more slowly.
Does everthing in the solar system orbits the sun?
Some objects orbit the planets, like our Moon orbits Earth, but all of those planets and Earth and things like comets all orbit the Sun. So yes, you can say that everything in the solar system is orbiting the sun. Our system is based on the Sun, which is know as the Sol, hence Solar, and so everything orbits the sun. That is why we call it a solar system.
Do planets travel at the same speed as they orbit the sun?
No. The the planets closest to the sun orbit the fastest. Mercury, the first planet from the sun orbits at about 107,000 mph. Earth orbits at about 65,000 mph, and Neptune, the farthest planet, orbits at about 12,000 mph.
Does Pluto have a lopsided orbit?
Yes, it does. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune all orbit the Sun on the same plane. Pluto's and Eris' orbits aren't on the same plane as the planets. This is one of the reasons those two bodies were categorized as dwarf planets.
