Why are they round?
2007-04-02 04:26:15 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Because that's how God created them.
2007-04-02 04:37:16 · answer #1 · answered by dimplez 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They are round because they are big enough to generate enough gravity to pull any large parts in closer to the center of the gravity. Little things like mountain ranges are strong enough to stand up against this pull, but if a planet the size of the earth were somehow shaped like a long, lumpy potato, it would soon be pulled back to a round shape.
But they are not perfectly round - they are slightly oblate, like a basketball that someone is sitting on. The centrifical force from planet's rotation causes it to bulge out a bit at the equator.
Be sure to tell your teacher you got the answer from the internet.
2007-04-02 11:31:48 · answer #2 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Planets and other space objects are for the most part round because of the "desire" (so to speak) of matter to reach it's lowest state of energy. (Example, a ball will roll down a hill from rest, but it won't roll up a hill from rest). A sphere is a densely packed object which has the most volume for the least amount of area covered. This put it at it's lowest energy state. (Drops of water also form spheres as they fall).
When the planets and such formed, they were just big piles of molten rock. The lowest energy state for them (like with a drop of water) was to reshape into a sphere.
2007-04-02 11:30:46 · answer #3 · answered by rebkos 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Space is a medium as well (just like water and Earth and wind). So those objects floating in that medium get the shape after a few million years.
2007-04-02 11:32:37 · answer #4 · answered by Cant stop thinking 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They are not entirely round. The earth has bumps, which are the lands occupying the earth so it cannot be counted as entirely round =p
2007-04-02 11:30:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because the sphere is the most efficient form of physical existence. It has uniform gravitational displacement.
2007-04-02 11:29:53 · answer #6 · answered by Jack 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
As much as I love this subject I have never even thought about this duhhhhhh. I thought all the information in here was good.
2007-04-02 11:48:21 · answer #7 · answered by Luv2no is in the house 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's easier to spin in a circle then spin in a square.
2007-04-02 11:32:51 · answer #8 · answered by elvenjewl 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
As the planets spin around, the wind erodes everything and shapes the planets into spheres.....LOL....Duhhhh !!
2007-04-02 11:35:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's the easiest form to maintain.
2007-04-02 11:29:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋