Ok, I have another hypothetical orbit-related question, I do apologise, heh. Assuming all other factors were the same, what would happen if the orbit of the Earth around the sun was circular rather than elliptical? Thanks!
2007-08-14 06:07:58 · 8 answers · asked by ? 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
A circle is really just a special case of the ellipse. And since Earth's orbit is not very eccentric, we wouldn't notice much of a difference at all. On Earth, climatalogical changes over the course of the year are due mainly to the changing of the seasons as governed by our axial tilt, and are not significantly influenced by the marginal changes in the distance of the Sun. Note that the Earth is actually closest to the Sun when the northern hemisphere experiences winter.
Mars, on the other hand, has a much more elliptical orbit than Earth, and changes in weather due to Mars approaching and receding from the Sun are actually nearly as significant as those caused by the changing of the seasons. If the orbit of Mars became circular, it would have a very pronounced impact on the climate because annual weather variation would be governed completely by the seasons.
2007-08-14 06:14:16 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Basically nothing new.
The seasons are caused by the earths axis being tilted in relation to it's obit around the sun so a minor change in the orbit wouldn't have any effect on seasons which I would assume would be the answer most people would give.
In order to achieve a circular orbit we would have to eliminate all the other planets and the asteroid belts, since they are the cause of the slightly elliptical orbit we currently have.
2007-08-14 06:17:05 · answer #2 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The only difference that anyone would notice is that the seasons would each be exactly the same length. As it is, winter in the Northern Hemisphere is about a week shorter than summer, since Earth's orbital velocity (like that of any orbiting body) is higher during perihelion than aphelion.
2007-08-14 06:54:45 · answer #3 · answered by skeptik 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tlbs101:
"It is already very nearly circular, so not much would happen. The earth is slightly further away during the northern hemisphere's winter (in January), but getting a million miles closer (about 1%) wouldn't have that much effect (IMO)."
Actually, the Earth is at perihelion (closest to the Sun) on January 3, so is actually closer to the Sun during the northern winter.
2007-08-14 11:25:55 · answer #4 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our orbit varies by about 3 million miles, which isn't much when you compare it to the 93 million miles we average. It would likely make the summers in the north a little warmer (as we're farther away from the sun during June), and the winters a tad cooler (as we're closer in December), but as long as we maintained our 23.5 degree tilt, the overall effect might be noticible, but slight.
2007-08-14 07:24:20 · answer #5 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is already very nearly circular, so not much would happen. The earth is slightly further away during the northern hemisphere's winter (in January), but getting a million miles closer (about 1%) wouldn't have that much effect (IMO).
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2007-08-14 06:17:35 · answer #6 · answered by tlbs101 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
david is right , th shape of our orbit has very very little if anything nto do with our seasons. There would be hardly any difference at all.
I calculate that our orbit is roughly 2% off circular as it is.
2007-08-14 06:17:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There probably wouldn't be seasons.
2007-08-14 06:15:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 8⤋