First, they do not revolve perfectly horizontally, they actually have slight departures from the horizontal plane. It's just pictured horizontally in most texts so that you can compare the orbit sizes and shapes more easily.
Second, the reason they ARE mostly horizontal however, is because of the fact that most planets are thought to have formed from an cloud of gas that was originally spinning. As the cloud collapsed, the spinning motion made the cloud bulge out and flatten at the middle. As that dust coalesced into bigger denser balls of planets, the planets kept that original orbit that the dust had (horizontal and elliptical around the center of mass the sun).
http://www.solstation.com/stars/k-belt1.jpg
Looking at that Kuiper belt picture will give you a better idea. The Kuiper belt is the leftover of that flattened disc I spoke of. The bits inside the belt is mostly empty space because it all got compacted into our nine round planets.
2006-08-11 06:40:24
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answer #1
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answered by ymingy@sbcglobal.net 4
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Conservation of Angular Momentum. Seriously, that's the answer - it's that simple. The cloud they formed out of got suppressed into a disk due to the rotation about a spinning Sun since the entire system rotates with the sum. In order to conserve angular momentum, and thus all the planets must also lie in the same plane (or close to it).
2006-08-11 07:44:36
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answer #2
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answered by Davon 2
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The solar system was formed from a disc so the planets are roughly aligned with the sun's equator. Pluto orbits at an angle as it is thought to be a captured asteroid from the Oort? cloud as are some of the other small planetoids being found which have very inclined orbits.
2006-08-11 10:27:28
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answer #3
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answered by John A 3
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i imagine a more effective acceptable thanks to state that's that the solar is element of the milky way that is rotating round that's middle. that is the solar does no longer orbit the milky way a lot because the earth does no longer orbit the image voltaic device. they're contained with those respectively. yet to respond to you first question, certain the milky way has gravitational stress, remember that all and distinctive gadgets with mass exert some style of gravitational stress. The milky way is a mess of stars, gasses and rocks all of which have mass including to the total gravitational container generated with the help of the milky way galaxy. As for the 2d question certain, both the solar and the milky way rotate round their respective axis. the solar rotates very further to how planets rotate. The milky way is a distinct tale fullyyt, yet sparing the dull info it does rotate as well. desire this facilitates, exhilaration
2016-11-24 20:20:49
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answer #4
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answered by deibert 4
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Of course you realize they are horizontal or vertical depending on your location, not there's. The real question is why not in a 720 degree pattern. My expertise is electronics but I think I can help. As each planets gravity affects each planets path, it would seem to me that the combined effect would form a distinct pattern and this could only be lateral. I hope this is correct. As for the electron's patterns,do we really know their pattern of flight? I know how it is depicted but it that true?
Vaya con DIOS
2006-08-11 06:34:31
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answer #5
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answered by chrisbrown_222 4
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Horizontal has no know reference in space and does not exist.
If the orbits of the planets are in alignment relative to each other it is possible that they are, in addition to the sun's gravitational force, affected by the sun's magnetic force, which would be greatest at its equator.
2006-08-11 06:38:29
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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They revolve horizontally because that is the angle at which you look at it. Turn it 90 degrees and they are vertical.
2006-08-11 06:27:08
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answer #7
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answered by johngrobmyer 5
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The sun rotates. So the planets rotate the sun along this plane ( very clode to this plane of sun's rotation)
2006-08-11 06:58:58
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answer #8
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answered by Dr M 5
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Inertia.
2006-08-11 06:26:04
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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Although they are represented horizontally, is that really the case?
2006-08-11 06:25:52
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answer #10
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answered by Anonymous
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