Gravitational forces cause spherical shapes to be overwhelmingly common for large astronomical bodies
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
4 sources for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Reference sources and scientific explanations confirm that gravitational forces pull mass toward a central point, making spherical shapes overwhelmingly common for large astronomical bodies.
# Why are stars, planets and larger moons (approximately) spherical in shape (like, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, and other planets)?
Tags: newtonian-gravity, astrophysics
- Score: 20
- Views: 6791
- Answers: 3
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Heet Kansagra (393 rep)
- Asked: 2011-09-19
- Edited: 2015-01-08
- Site: physics
## Question
Why are stars, planets and larger moons (approximately) spherical in shape (like, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth, and other planets)?
## Answers
### Answer by Warrick (score: 23)
I'm not sure if this is the "done" thing, but the question is cross-posted from Physics.SE, so I'm cross-posting my answer...
In short, it's because gravity is "round". That is, it only depends on the distance between objects. All objects that are at a particular distance are attracted with the same acceleration, so we'd say it's constant on a sphere and thus, in a way, it's "round". This isn't the whole story, of course. Things aren't perfectly round because of effects like rotation. But if gravity were left to itself, they'd tend towards perfect spheres.
In physics, we tend to say these objects are in hydrostatic equilibrium. In fact, this is part of the new IAU definitio
# Why are spherical shapes so common in the universe?
Tags: particle-physics, cosmology, universe, topology, geometry
- Score: 25
- Views: 7067
- Answers: 9
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Ishaan (517 rep)
- Asked: 2024-06-05
- Edited: 2024-06-06
- Site: physics
## Question
I have a simple question. Why are most objects in the observable universe spherical in shape? Why not conical, cubical, cuboidal for instance? I am furnishing a few points to justify this statement:
Most of the planets in the universe are spheroids.
Other heavenly bodies (e.g.: stars and moons) are also spherical.
Even elementary particles like atoms are best described as spheres (I admit that they don't have well-defined boundaries, but we still use terms like atomic radius when describing atoms.)
So, my primary question boils down to this single line:
Why is the spherical shape so ubiquitous in the observable universe (both in the microscopic and the macroscopic world)?
## Answers
### Answer by CStarAlgebra (score: 48 [ACCEPTED])
Spherical shapes in the universe are common because the dominant long range forces like gravity and electromagnetism are central (in that they only depend on the distance betw
ESA - Why are things in space the shape that they are?
You cannot fail to notice it – space is littered with spherical shapes, from our own Earth to the enormous planet Jupiter. Why is Nature obsessed with all things round?
Gravity is the force that keeps us on our planet by drawing us so powerfully towards its centre. It has much the same effect on everything else floating in the cosmos, as long as it is big enough. All objects in the Universe are subject to their own force of gravity. It is one of the fundamental forces of our Universe. For objects larger than approximately one fifth the size of Earth, gravity (rather than electrostatic forces, for example) will be the dominant force determining their shape.
As gravity pulls matter towards other matter, a sphere forms. Why? Only a sphere allows every point on its surface to have the same distance from the centre, so that no part of the object can further 'fall' toward its centre. Gravity just keeps on pulling. Given time, even the highest mountains on Earth will eventually be levelled under its power.
## Bending light
ESA's Gaia will study huge numbers of stars
The gravity of objects in our Universe, such as Jupiter, does n
Why Are Planets Round? | Shape & Facts | Britannica
Why Are Planets Round?
Solar system to scale The eight planets of the solar system and Pluto, in a montage of images scaled to show the approximate sizes of the bodies relative to one another. Outward from the Sun, which is represented to scale by the yellow segment at the extreme left, are the four rocky terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars), the four hydrogen-rich giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), and icy, comparatively tiny Pluto. (more)
# Why Are Planets Round?
There are a lot of strange things in the universe, so why are planets round instead of every shape imaginable?
Ask Anything Homework Help
Written by
Erik Gregersen
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Britannica AI
Ask Anything
Table of Contents
Table of Contents Ask Anything
The Sun and all eight planets of the solar system are round. Why? The gravitational force of a planet’s mass pulls all of its material toward the center,
Everything we examined (4) — 3 independent sources
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.