HELP!
2006-10-26 11:01:10 · 6 answers · asked by Matilda C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Because before the planets and asteroid belt even existed, the orbits were defined by harmonic ratios (that is, musical) in relation to their distance from the sun, and the relation of the aphelion to the perahelion. This was discovered first by Johannes Kepler, the father of modern astronomy. In fact, he wrote a book called "Harmonica Mundi" ["The Harmony of the Spheres"]. The speed and spacing of the planets' orbits was defined under the principle of universal gravitation, also discovered by Kepler. The planets are stable in these orbits, for many eons to come.
Kepler, though, detected a "dissonance" in the area between Mars and Jupiter, and hypothesized that a planet that may have formed in this area would have been destroyed by the gravitational forces, because the region was "dissonanat" (F#, to be exact, which divides a C Major scale in half, but is a dissonant interval between C and F#). Many years later, as astronomy and telescopes advanced, Kepler's hypothesis was proven true.
The asteroid belt, as it is currently, is also fairly stable. It may be the case that from time to time, an asteroid may stray out of the orbit, and begin to orbit closer to the sun. However, the distances involved are so large, that a collision with another planet, is very improbable.
2006-10-26 11:28:43 · answer #1 · answered by Joya 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All of the asteroids are in orbit. It's the same reason Earth doesn't fly into the sun, smashing into Venus or Mercury. It doesn't matter that there are a lot of them. None of Jupiter's moon are falling into Jupiter- they're held in orbit even though there are forty or fifty of them.
2006-10-26 11:12:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do plunge toward the Sun, but they are moving so fast horizontally they're in a free-fall orbit. Like us.
Even if they did move toward the Sun, they would be very very unlikely to hit planets on the way.
2006-10-26 11:14:05 · answer #3 · answered by k_e_p_l_e_r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same reason the planets don't plunge toward the sun. They're in free fall.
2006-10-26 11:04:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For now, they are where they are because of millions of years of gravitational balance.
The objects in space are not affected only by the gravity of the sun, but by all other sources as well. Not to mention there apparent tangent trajectory if the sun's gravity didn't pull them.
2006-10-26 11:06:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are held in place by Jupiter's strong gravity field
2006-10-26 11:27:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋