One of the foci is the sun but what is the other focus that folds the plants in the elliptical orbit.
2007-04-14 17:14:00 · 10 answers · asked by Tiko 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
OK I did not ask why it is not circular I just asked what cuases the 2nd foci
2007-04-15 15:14:33 · update #1
becuase God said so. theres no other explanation. it just does.
2007-04-14 17:22:17 · answer #1 · answered by daniel_zamilpa 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
The mathematical relationship describing elliptical orbits of sat elites involves two foci both of which which are locations. The foci do not both need to be at objects, just one, in the main body.
For many satelites , manmade and natural, both foci can be located within the main body . If the ellipse is circular ( the special case of the ellipse family) both foci will be at the same location, the center of mass. For more eccentric ellipses one focus will be at the center of mass and the other can still be within the main body , but closer to the surface. With very eccentric orbits, like comets, one focus is in the sun and the other out beyond the solar system somewhere.
2007-04-15 00:46:47 · answer #2 · answered by Bomba 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are only two possibilities. One is a perfectly circular orbit where a planet is always exactly the same distance from the sun, a highly unlikely occurence in nature. Or second is where the sun is not dead center, which will always produces an ellipitical orbit. This is true of all satellites in any orbit, not only the planets.
In a perfect circular orbit a planet is always traveling the same speed. In a elliptical orbit the planet is accelerating during one half of the orbit and slowing for one half of the orbit.
2007-04-15 01:10:26 · answer #3 · answered by stedyedy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A circular orbit would be unstable. Any force whatsoever would change it to an elliptical orbit. And since the planets themselves are always tugging on each other as they orbit, there's now way we could ever maintain a circular one.
2007-04-15 03:45:24 · answer #4 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The planets orbit around the center of mass of the solar system. Most of that mass is the sun. The rest are all the other planets. since they are moving so is the center of gravity. There aren't two focii there is only one but it's moving, hence the ellipse.
2007-04-15 02:22:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it just has to do with gravity and the way it was set in motion when it began. If it's too close to the center of gravity, it'd fall to the surface of the body. If it's too far, it's not held in orbit. If it's just right, it stays in orbit on the path it started on. Nobody really knows why -- I guess we could ask whoever created the universe just what they had in mind. :)
2007-04-15 00:22:31 · answer #6 · answered by Sara 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because of the balance between the amount of gravitational force on two orbiting objects, and the centripetal force, all which is determined by the distance between the two objects and their speed. This will ensure an eliptical orbit.
2007-04-15 00:23:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is up to the planet it self , what the planet want to but absolutely that like travel in ellipse orbit may be someday change the direction.
2007-04-15 00:43:02 · answer #8 · answered by sastro 5 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The curse of Sir Issac Newton.
2007-04-15 00:19:55 · answer #9 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
b/c they're gay.
ok.. so i don't know.
2007-04-15 00:18:58 · answer #10 · answered by determined_ladii 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋