Why all the planets in our solar system are revolving in those specified orbits only? why should they do not change their orbits? why they will not collide each other?
2007-02-27 02:13:18 · 8 answers · asked by karnam r 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This is due to the centripetal forces acting on the planets and the gravitational forces acting , if centripetal and gravitational forces are not there perhaps u can expect collision
2007-02-27 02:24:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi.
The planets are revolving in their specific orbits because that was where they were "caught" by the Sun's gravity. Think of it this way: they were supposed to be moving only in a straight line after Big Bang, but because the Sun's gravity is so strong (and also because the planet's were so massive) they were forced to keep turning towards the Sun. The problem is, at the distance they were caught, the force is not sufficient to pull them inwards anymore, but strong enough to make sure they don't go farther away.
See, gravitational forces are affected by the masses of the two objects pulling each other (Sun and any other planet): the greater the masses of the two objects, the stronger the gravitational forces. That's why the smaller planets were caught much closer to the Sun, and the larger planets were caught farther from it (although there are some exceptions). Since they have a somewhat fixed orbit already (determined by the gravitational force that keeps them there) they can't collide with other planets.
2007-02-27 10:25:04 · answer #2 · answered by Moja1981 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The orbit is determined by the masses of the two objects and the momentum of the orbiting object. If a planet would move closer, it would have to speed up to maintain a stable orbit or spiral in to the sun. If it moved out, it would have to slow down or fly away.
In the early solar system, planets almost certainly did collide with eachother. There were more of them then. What you see now are the survivors.
2007-02-27 10:18:50 · answer #3 · answered by fucose_man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is a good question . The answer is that they acquired those orbits by chance . They could eventually collide if they deflect too much from their orbits. In fact those which might in the past have collided are not around for us to see and so we cannot ask the question about them because they did indeed collide .
2007-02-27 10:27:53 · answer #4 · answered by physicist 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
due to the attraction of sun towards it and the repulsion of the planets away from the planets there is a orbit formed around it and the planets revolve around it
2007-03-01 03:14:59 · answer #5 · answered by selva ganesh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is like asking why all humans have eyes, nose, etc. in front and not on their back!
2007-02-27 10:27:55 · answer #6 · answered by Sami V 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because if they did, we wouldn't be here to ask those kinds of questions. But, since we *are* here, they don't.
HTH âº
Doug
2007-02-27 10:22:07 · answer #7 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they obey Newton's laws of motion
2007-02-27 10:21:20 · answer #8 · answered by ukmudgal 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋