In one sentence I need to describe the shapes of the orbits of the planets. The shape must be accounted for in a model of the solar system, and of the solar system formation. My answer would be that the shapes of the orbits are round. Yet this seems to obvious! Need help.. is my answer right, wrong?
Here in Texas, we observe the orbits to be elliptical with one Foci very near the Sun's geometrical center.
thanks
Your answer that the shapes of the orbits are round is not completely accurate. While it is a common misconception that the orbits of planets are perfectly circular, they are actually elliptical in shape.
To explain further, Johannes Kepler, a German astronomer, formulated three laws of planetary motion, which describe the shapes of planetary orbits. Kepler's first law, also known as the law of elliptical orbits, states that the planets move in elliptical paths around the Sun, with the Sun located at one of the foci of the ellipse.
This means that the shape of a planetary orbit is best described as an ellipse, which resembles a slightly stretched or squished circle. The eccentricity of the ellipse determines how elongated or circular the orbit appears, with a value of 0 representing a perfect circle and values closer to 1 indicating a more elongated shape.
Therefore, when modeling the solar system or explaining its formation, it is essential to consider the elliptical shape of planetary orbits rather than assuming they are strictly circular.