Angular Momentum: Keeping Planets on their Orbit

Newton's laws of motion state that an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an external force. This means that the planets will continue to move in their orbits unless there is a force that changes their speed or direction. In summary, the planets stay in their orbits due to the force of gravity from the star, their initial speed from the spinning cloud of gas/dust, and Newton's laws of motion.
  • #1
mreq
77
0
Hy.

What makes the planets to keep their position on the orbit (the same orbit). Shouldn't be attracted by the gravitation of the star ?

Thanks!
 
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  • #2
Hi there,

To be very simple, their speed!
 
  • #3
they keep in their orbits due to the force of attraction or gravitational pull which depends on the distance of the planets and the radius of the orbits from each other and the sun.
 
  • #4
And what give them the speed (motion)?
 
  • #5
mreq said:
And what give them the speed (motion)?
The angular momentum of the original spinning cloud of gas/dust that formed the solar system.
 
  • #6
And why it doesn't stop ?
 
  • #7
mreq said:
And why it doesn't stop ?

Newton's laws of motion.
 

Related to Angular Momentum: Keeping Planets on their Orbit

1. What is angular momentum?

Angular momentum is a measure of an object's rotational motion. It is calculated by multiplying an object's moment of inertia by its angular velocity. In simpler terms, it is the tendency of an object to keep spinning.

2. How does angular momentum keep planets on their orbit?

The angular momentum of a planet is responsible for its orbital motion. The planet's momentum keeps it moving in a circular or elliptical path around its parent star, while still maintaining a constant distance from the star.

3. What factors affect the angular momentum of a planet?

The angular momentum of a planet is affected by its mass, the distance from its parent star, and its rotational speed. The larger the planet's mass and the faster it rotates, the greater its angular momentum will be.

4. Can angular momentum change over time?

Yes, angular momentum can change over time. This can happen if external forces, such as gravitational interactions with other planets or celestial bodies, act on the planet. However, in most cases, the total angular momentum of a planet and its parent star remains constant.

5. How does conservation of angular momentum explain the formation of the solar system?

The principle of conservation of angular momentum helps explain the formation of the solar system. As a large cloud of gas and dust collapsed under its own gravity, it began to rotate faster and faster due to conservation of angular momentum. This rotation caused the cloud to flatten out into a disk, with the majority of the mass concentrated at the center. Over time, this disk eventually formed into the planets and other objects we see in our solar system today.

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