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madphysics
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If the planets are forced into circular orbits by inertia and gravity, why are the orbits of comets oval shaped? What keeps them from entering the sun.
Why do they miss? And even if they do, what keeps them from orbiting closer and closert till they hit the orbital point
Why do you miss when you throw something at something? You miss if the velocity vector is not directly toward the target. Even with gravity, you will always miss if the velocity vector is not directly toward the target, when considering the target a point mass. When the target isn't a point mass, you have to calculate the closest point of approach and see if that is inside the radius of the target.madphysics said:Why do they miss?
Conservation of momentum. An eliptical orbit is not a spiral, it is an ellipse.And even if they do, what keeps them from orbiting closer and closert till they hit the orbital point.
Yes, that's basically it. As it falls toward the planet, it speeds up, so it is tougher for the planet to alter the trajectory further. It's momentum carries it away in a symmetrical path to it's approach.Does it work something like a slingshot? The gravity pullsit in, but when it misses, the inertia from the gravity keeps it moving far beyond the orbital point.
You have it backwards - there needs to be extra effects in there like tidal friction to cause objects orbiting each other to spiral in or out. Conservation of energy/momentum prohibits it otherwise. An orbit of two point masses with no other perturbating effects is completely stable.madphysics said:The theory involving binary star systems is that they circle each other until the collide. The same is the theory for galaxies, like the Andromeda and Milky Way galaxy. So what's the foundation for the belief that they won't hit each other?
The elliptical orbits of comets are caused by the gravitational pull of the sun and other celestial bodies. As the comet moves closer to the sun, the gravitational force increases and pulls the comet into an elliptical orbit.
Scientists study the orbits of comets using telescopes, spacecraft missions, and mathematical models. These methods allow them to track the position and movement of comets in relation to other objects in our solar system.
The elliptical orbits of comets can have various consequences, such as causing collisions with other objects in our solar system, producing meteor showers, and potentially posing a threat to Earth if a comet's orbit intersects with our planet's orbit.
Yes, comets' orbits can change over time due to the gravitational pull of other objects, collisions, and outbursts of gas and dust. These changes can alter the shape and length of the comet's orbit.
Studying comet orbits can provide valuable insights into the formation of our solar system. By analyzing the shapes and characteristics of comet orbits, scientists can better understand the conditions of the early solar system and the processes that led to the formation of our planets.