Any moving object has kinetic energy. To know the origin of the earth's kinetic energy relative to the sun requires knowledge of the origin of the earth (and other planets) that we don't have.
Once the earth is in a stable orbit, energy is conserved. It doesn't require energy to maintain that orbit. Some extremely weak factors cause some loss of that kinetic energy, letting the orbit decay very slowly.
So, what energy are you asking about?
2007-04-10 19:05:51
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answer #1
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answered by Frank N 7
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The energy for the earth to orbit comes from our gravitational attraction to the sun. We are constantly falling toward the sun, missing it and going past, over and over again. This is what causes any sort of orbit, from the earth around the sun, to the moon around the earth.
The spinning of the earth is different. Since there is nothing acting (nothing dramatic, there are very slight forces) to stop us from spinning, we just keep spinning. This is Newton's first law- objects at rest tend to remain at rest and objects in motion tend to remain in motion unless acted upon by other forces.
So, whatever process had the earth spinning when it was formed is still acting, there is little to oppose it.
2007-04-10 16:21:54
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answer #2
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answered by xaviar_onasis 5
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When the earth was originally formed it acquired kinetic energy from the motions of all the atoms that coalesced to form the planet. That kinetic energy manifests as the rotational energy and orbital velocity energy which it has now. You know about the conservation of energy law, don't you? Well, that energy acquired billions of years ago is still here.
2007-04-10 16:23:08
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answer #3
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answered by Renaissance Man 5
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From when the solar system was first formed.
All of the particles that made up Earth each had their own velocities and motion. When they merged, all of these combined.
2007-04-10 16:19:17
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answer #4
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answered by edward_otto@sbcglobal.net 5
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