WHY are orbits elliptical?

Why isn't the Sun at the center of

the orbits? Is there a mathematical or gravitational answer
or is it just random placement after formation?

These are great questions about elliptical orbits. To answer the

primary question briefly - It's because of physics that the orbits
are nearly always elliptical. Of course, nothing precludes a perfectly
circular orbit other than the fact that it would be very unusual for
any orbit to be PERFECTLY circular. The situation where the Sun,
for instance, would be exactly in the center of a perfectly circular
planetary orbit couldn't happen in our Solar System since there are
other planets that would gravitationally affect the orbit and cause
it to be immediately non-circular by pulling the object to one side or
the other. Any other stable orbit type than a perfectly circular one
turns out to be an elliptical orbit.

"An ellipse is defined as a figure drawn around two points called the
foci in such a way that the distance from one focus to any point on
the ellipse and then back to the other focus equals a constant. This
makes it very easy to draw ellipses with two thumbtacks and a loop
of string (both ends tied together). Press the thumbtacks into a
board, loop the string about them, and place a pencil in the loop. If
you keep the string taught as you move the pencil, it will trace out
an ellipse." - from Michael A. Seeds, "Horizons - Exploring the
Universe," Wadsworth Publishing Company. A great freshman non-
science major astronomy textbook.

You can think about it in this way... Because of geometry and

because of Newton's law of universal gravitation (* see notes
below), there are only four different paths that an object passing
close to the Sun might take. The first would be a hyperbolic orbit -
for example, the object comes in from space towards the Sun with
so much energy that it swings around the Sun, but still with enough
energy to head back out into space on a different course... An path
that would look kind of like a stretched out letter "U". Secondly,
the object could come in from space without enough energy to

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escape from the Sun's gravity and would thus be captured in an
elliptical orbit with the eccentricity of the orbit dependent upon the
object's initial energy. Thirdly, the object might have PRECISELY
the amount of energy to be captured in a perfectly circular orbit.
And finally fourth, the object might not have enough energy to
establish any sort of orbit and it would spiral into the surface of
the Sun and burn up.

These are the only theoretical choices: hyperbolic, elliptical,

circular, and spiral (impact).

So what really happens in our solar system? It is believed that

there are some comets from the distant fringe of our Solar System,
from the Oort cloud, that fall into the inner Solar System, swing
around the Sun and then head back out into space on hyperbolic
orbits, never to return for another pass around the Sun...I say
'believed' because for an orbit to be defined as hyperbolic, the
comet can *never* return. Not even in millions and millions of
years. If it does, then the orbit is classified as elliptical with
extremely high eccentricity. (Please reference any geometry
textbook). Most solar system objects that we are familiar with like
the planets, asteroids, even the particles in the rings of Saturn are
all in elliptical orbits. Most of these orbits are very nearly circular,
but once again, to be considered "circular" they have to be perfectly
circular. OK, that horse is beaten to death. :-)

While the familiar objects are in elliptical orbits, there are a lot of
objects that fall into the Sun on a spiral path. Comets die this way
all of the time. You can do an online search for the SOHO space
observatory to find pictures it has captured of this actually
occurring. To my knowledge, there is nothing in a truly circular orbit
around the Sun.

Back to the question of "Why?" I'd like to offer you a reference

that you can find at your local library. Please look up the college
freshman Physics textbook by Robert Resnick and David Halliday,

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published by John Wiley & Sons. Not only is there a complete
explanation of Kepler's First Law, but also of gravitation, and
Kepler's other two laws, very much related to your question.

As a side note to all of this, scientists call an equation a "Law" when

they discover something that they see as fundamental to the way
entire universe works and that has never been contradicted by
other empirical evidence that can't be explained. The whole
strength behind Kepler's First Law was that it allowed for the
future positions of the planets to be predicted precisely far into
the future, something that had never been possible before with the
previously proposed complicated schemes. The elliptical orbit idea
was so simple while neatly explaining and predicting planetary motion
extremely well that it was seen as a fundamental revolution in
scientific thinking. His laws explained the facts of how scientists
knew the universe behaved. To quest to answer 'why' gravity works
in the way it does is one of the areas of theoretical physics and
cosmological research today.

* Note 1

Universal Law of Gravitation:

F = G * (m1 * m2) / r2

F = gravitational force
G = Gravitational constant (6.67x10-11 N-m2/kg2)
m1 = mass of first object
m2 = mass of second object
r = distance between m1 and m2

* Note 2
Equation of an ellipse:
If 2a = length of major axis and if
2b = length of minor axis

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then the equation of an ellipse in rectangular coordinates (X, Y) is:
(X-Xo)2 / a2 + (Y-Yo)2 / b2 = 1

* Note 3
Other suggested references:
Geometry textbook
Trigonometry textbook

Elliptical Orbits and Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion

Since the orbits of the planets are ellipses, let us review a few basic
properties of ellipses.

1. For an ellipse there are two points called foci (singular: focus)
such that the sum of the distances to the foci from any point on the
ellipse is a constant. In terms of the diagram shown below, with "x"
marking the location of the foci, we have the equation:

a + b = constant

that defines the ellipse in terms of the distances a and b.

2. The amount of "flattening" of the ellipse is termed the

eccentricity. Thus, in the following figure the ellipses become more
eccentric from left to right. A circle may be viewed as a special case
of an ellipse with zero eccentricity, while as the ellipse becomes
more flattened the eccentricity approaches one. Thus, all ellipses
have eccentricities lying between zero and one.

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The orbits of the planets are ellipses but the eccentricities are so
small for most of the planets that they look circular at first glance.
For most of the planets one must measure the geometry carefully to
determine that they are not circles, but ellipses of small
eccentricity. Pluto and Mercury are exceptions: their orbits are
sufficiently eccentric that they can be seen by inspection to not be
circles.

3. The long axis of the ellipse is called the major axis, while the
short axis is called the minor axis. Half of the major axis is termed
a semi-major axis.

The length of a semi-major axis is often termed the size of the

ellipse. It can be shown that the average separation of a planet from
the Sun as it goes around its elliptical orbit is equal to the length of
the semi-major axis. Thus, by the "radius" of a planet's orbit one
usually means the length of the semi-major axis.

The Laws of Planetary Motion

Page 5 of 16
Kepler obtained Brahe's data after his death despite the attempts
by Brahe's family to keep the data from him in the hope of
monetary gain. There is some evidence that Kepler obtained the
data by less than legal means; it is fortunate for the development of
modern astronomy that he was successful. Utilizing the voluminous
and precise data of Brahe, Kepler was eventually able to build on the
realization that the orbits of the planets were ellipses to formulate
his Three Laws of Planetary Motion.

Kepler's First Law:

I. The orbits of the planets are ellipses, with the Sun at one focus
of the ellipse.

Kepler's First Law is illustrated in the image shown above. The Sun
is not at the center of the ellipse, but is instead at one focus
(generally there is nothing at the other focus of the ellipse). The
planet then follows the ellipse in its orbit, which means that the
Earth-Sun distance is constantly changing as the planet goes around
its orbit. For purpose of illustration we have shown the orbit as
rather eccentric; remember that the actual orbits are much less
eccentric than this.

Why are the orbits elliptical and not circular? More about elliptical
orbits

Kepler's Second Law:

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II. The line joining the planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in
equal times as the planet travels around the ellipse.

Kepler's second law is illustrated in the preceding figure. The line

joining the Sun and planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times, so
the planet moves faster when it is nearer the Sun. Thus, a planet
executes elliptical motion with constantly changing angular speed as
it moves about its orbit. The point of nearest approach of the planet
to the Sun is termed perihelion; the point of greatest separation is
termed aphelion. Hence, by Kepler's second law, the planet moves
fastest when it is near perihelion and slowest when it is near
aphelion.

Kepler's Third Law:

III. The ratio of the squares of the revolutionary periods for two
planets is equal to the ratio of the cubes of their semi-major axes.

In this equation P represents the period of revolution for a planet

and R represents the length of its semi-major axis. The subscripts
"1" and "2" distinguish quantities for planet 1 and 2 respectively. The
periods for the two planets are assumed to be in the same time

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units and the lengths of the semi-major axes for the two planets
are assumed to be in the same distance units.

Kepler's Third Law implies that the period for a planet to orbit the
Sun increases rapidly with the radius of its orbit. Thus, we find that
Mercury, the innermost planet, takes only 88 days to orbit the Sun
but the outermost planet (Pluto) requires 248 years to do the same.

(For more detailed mathematical explanation, see this link.)

Calculations Using Kepler's Third Law

A convenient unit of measurement for periods is in Earth years, and

a convenient unit of measurement for distances is the average
separation of the Earth from the Sun, which is termed an
astronomical unit and is abbreviated as AU. If these units are used
in Kepler's 3rd Law, the denominators in the preceding equation are
numerically equal to unity and it may be written in the simple form

P (years)2 = R (A.U.s)3

This equation may then be solved for the period P of the planet,
given the length of the semi-major axis,

P (years) = R (A.U.)3/2

or for the length of the semi-major axis, given the period of the
planet,

R (A.U.) = P (Years) 2/3

As an example of using Kepler's 3rd Law, let's calculate the "radius"

of the orbit of Mars (that is, the length of the semi-major axis of

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the orbit) from the orbital period. The time for Mars to orbit the
Sun is observed to be 1.88 Earth years. Thus, by Kepler's 3rd Law
the length of the semi-major axis for the Martian orbit is

R = P 2/3 = (1.88) 2/3 = 1.52 AU

which is exactly the measured average distance of Mars from the

Sun. As a second example, let us calculate the orbital period for
Pluto, given that its observed average separation from the Sun is
39.44 astronomical units. From Kepler's 3rd Law

P = R3/2 = (39.44)3/2 = 248 Years

which is indeed the observed orbital period for the planet Pluto.

http://www.astro-tom.com/technical_data/files_to_download.htm

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?
qid=20090102005113AAwP45y

Earth Revolving in Elliptical Path, Why?

Centripetal force exerted by the centre of the orbit (say Sun)
causes the orbiting bodies to revolve in Circular both. How does
Elliptical Path work. To construct a ellipse, we need to have two foci
(focuses). But, Sun is present in one of the foci. How does the Earth
going to the Apheheron returns. If Sun exerts so much gravity to
accelerate the Earth even at Apheheron, Sun should absorb the
Earth at its Periheron. Then, what logic (relation) is there to keep
the Earth in uniform Elliptical Path. I tried to make out in my
thought experiment, but, I can not. Can someone please explain in
detail so that planetory motions can be clearly understood??
 5 months ago
 (Tiebreaker)

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 Answerer 1

I think you're confused that if the Earth is so close at

perihelion, why it should at all return to apogee?

More fundamental I think you need to know is why orbits are

formed anyway. First I think you should think of position and
velocity ... in orbits, these exist in at least two different
dimensions, and that's precisely where it matters. Normally
when you think of gravity in your everyday life, you only think
of it in one direction -- as you get closer to the attracting
body (position), the faster you move toward it, (velocity).

But what if you already had some velocity perpendicular to the

gravitational force exerted on you by the body? This
perpendicular component of velocity won't immediately change,
because for the time being (in stop action analysis),
gravitational force will only affect one direction (towards the
centre of the body). So it could well be that this perpendicular
velocity is fast enough that it can in fact move you *away*
from the centre of mass of the body, hard as this body might
try to pull you back.

Next is the concept of "equilibrium". It sounds simple but it

actually accounts for the principle you are looking for.

There's a fair amount of kinematic (dynamic) geometry here,

but you should know as you move past an attracting body, the
gravitational force that might have been originally

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perpendicular to your original motion starts affecting that
component (let's say this was the y direction) of your original
velocity again, making you return to the body, but as you get
closer to the attracting body again, gravitational force
becomes more and more perpendicular to your ongoing velocity,
so you move away again. Somewhere in between is an
equilibrium where you neither move away from the body nor
get closer -- but you move around nevertheless, perpendicular
to gravitational force. The rate of change of radius is zero -- a
fixed radius -- a circular orbit!!

Now, why do elliptical orbits form? For that matter, why do

some objects collide and why do some rotate each other? It
just happens that by chance (or Grand Design, believe what you
will), that different objects have different starting velocities
as they approach each other. Sometimes, the initial velocity is
in the same direction (or very close) as the gravitational force
exerted on the body. In effect a one-dimensional problem.
Collision.

Some objects are too slow even if their initial velocity was
perpendicular to gravity. Take for example, you trying to jump
horizontally. Can you escape...? Ooomph.

Some objects zoom by a body so fast compared to the

gravitational force of that body that such a body can never
exert enough force to make the objects return at any
*distance* -- no matter which angle the objects are
approaching (except in a head-on collision). But such a body will
exert a force that affects the components of motion as to
curve the trajectory slightly -- voila, a parabola.

Some objects have enough velocity to resist being pulled in

immediately -- but at some point out in space the body will
start overpowering the components from the initial velocity

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 sufficiently as to slow it down and bring it back in (again, this
is because of the kinematic geometry I've described above).
So they *must* return. But because they were so fast when
they originally zoomed by, but now they have slowed down to
reverse course, they travel back to the body really slowly. But
as they get closer they speed up again! But remember as they
get closer, the angle between the object's velocity and the
body's gravitational force changes .... but now having sped up
fast enough, the object begins moving away from the body
again ... until it reaches far enough into space where gravity
overpowers it (again, due to angle) and makes it come back.

Voila, elliptical orbit.

In fact, all orbits are elliptical in some way. Circular orbits are
just special cases of elliptical orbits. You notice that circular
orbits tend to happen when the object is much much smaller
than the body -- small objects tend to have lower kinetic
energies because of the equation KE = 0.5mv^2 -- and there's
an upper limit on v: c, the speed of light.
Objects with comparatively low initial kinetic energy cannot
travel far before the massive gravitational force of the body
makes it come back -- so the eccentricity will be very small. So
small, that the eccentric component is negligible and we call it
circular. Some objects in space, are moving so fast or got
"trapped" at a point sufficiently far away from the attracting
body that their trajectories are eccentric enough to be
elliptical. And some are so eccentric that they never come
back -- parabolae.

Source(s):

High school math, conic sections, and derivatives. And oh yeah,

kinematics.

 Answerer 2

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 I think Kepler's Second law of planetary motion(Law of Areas)
explains yer doubt.It states that the planets velocity is
maximum when closest to the sun,minimum when the planet is
farthest

 Answerer 3

The speed of the earth in its elliptical orbit around the sun is
not constant.

At the greatest distance from the sun, the earth has the
lowest speed and the most potential energy. As it approaches
the sun, it gains speed and loses potential energy. Although the
force of the sun's gravity gets stronger as the earth
approaches, its momentum also increases. Although it does get
closer to the sun, it still has enough momentum to not take a
trajectory that would impact the sun. It zooms around the sun
at its highest speed at the distance of closest approach to the
sun and then back out again for another orbit

 Answerer 4

I couldnt really understand what you were saying... but I think

I got the general gist

The Earth doesnt fall into the Sun because it slows down when
its farther away from the sun and speeds up when its closer.
That speed allows it to kind of escape the sun's gravity

Answers (6)

 Answerer 1

I think you're confused that if the Earth is so close at

perihelion, why it should at all return to apogee?

Page 13 of 16
More fundamental I think you need to know is why orbits are
formed anyway. First I think you should think of position and
velocity ... in orbits, these exist in at least two different
dimensions, and that's precisely where it matters. Normally
when you think of gravity in your everyday life, you only think
of it in one direction -- as you get closer to the attracting
body (position), the faster you move toward it, (velocity).

But what if you already had some velocity perpendicular to the

gravitational force exerted on you by the body? This
perpendicular component of velocity won't immediately change,
because for the time being (in stop action analysis),
gravitational force will only affect one direction (towards the
centre of the body). So it could well be that this perpendicular
velocity is fast enough that it can in fact move you *away*
from the centre of mass of the body, hard as this body might
try to pull you back.

Next is the concept of "equilibrium". It sounds simple but it

actually accounts for the principle you are looking for.

There's a fair amount of kinematic (dynamic) geometry here,

but you should know as you move past an attracting body, the
gravitational force that might have been originally
perpendicular to your original motion starts affecting that
component (let's say this was the y direction) of your original
velocity again, making you return to the body, but as you get
closer to the attracting body again, gravitational force
becomes more and more perpendicular to your ongoing velocity,
so you move away again. Somewhere in between is an
equilibrium where you neither move away from the body nor
get closer -- but you move around nevertheless, perpendicular
to gravitational force. The rate of change of radius is zero -- a
fixed radius -- a circular orbit!!

Page 14 of 16
Now, why do elliptical orbits form? For that matter, why do
some objects collide and why do some rotate each other? It
just happens that by chance (or Grand Design, believe what you
will), that different objects have different starting velocities
as they approach each other. Sometimes, the initial velocity is
in the same direction (or very close) as the gravitational force
exerted on the body. In effect a one-dimensional problem.
Collision.

Some objects are too slow even if their initial velocity was
perpendicular to gravity. Take for example, you trying to jump
horizontally. Can you escape...? Ooomph.

Some objects zoom by a body so fast compared to the

gravitational force of that body that such a body can never
exert enough force to make the objects return at any
*distance* -- no matter which angle the objects are
approaching (except in a head-on collision). But such a body will
exert a force that affects the components of motion as to
curve the trajectory slightly -- voila, a parabola.

Some objects have enough velocity to resist being pulled in

immediately -- but at some point out in space the body will
start overpowering the components from the initial velocity
sufficiently as to slow it down and bring it back in (again, this
is because of the kinematic geometry I've described above).
So they *must* return. But because they were so fast when
they originally zoomed by, but now they have slowed down to
reverse course, they travel back to the body really slowly. But
as they get closer they speed up again! But remember as they
get closer, the angle between the object's velocity and the
body's gravitational force changes .... but now having sped up
fast enough, the object begins moving away from the body
again ... until it reaches far enough into space where gravity
overpowers it (again, due to angle) and makes it come back.

Page 15 of 16
Voila, elliptical orbit.

In fact, all orbits are elliptical in some way. Circular orbits are
just special cases of elliptical orbits. You notice that circular
orbits tend to happen when the object is much much smaller
than the body -- small objects tend to have lower kinetic
energies because of the equation KE = 0.5mv^2 -- and there's
an upper limit on v: c, the speed of light.
Objects with comparatively low initial kinetic energy cannot
travel far before the massive gravitational force of the body
makes it come back -- so the eccentricity will be very small. So
small, that the eccentric component is negligible and we call it
circular. Some objects in space, are moving so fast or got
"trapped" at a point sufficiently far away from the attracting
body that their trajectories are eccentric enough to be
elliptical. And some are so eccentric that they never come
back -- parabolae.

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