Planet Question

[bleeb]

Why is the earth tilted and spinning diagonally on the axis rather than vertically?

 

[rahvin]

The tilt of the earth is likely attributable to the collision with a comet early in the formation of the solar system, this collision is likely the same one that formed the moon. I don't know why planets rotate the direction they do but vertical spin about the poles seems to be the typical and anything not fitting that was likely caused by collisions.

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, some event early in the solar system's history must've knocked the axis off a bit. Since angular momentum is conserved under central forces, it's stayed that way.

 

[Klandestine]

it's so it's hard to make a model solar system out of styrofoam spheres DUH

 

[CrackRabbit]

Without the nifty tilt and wobble that that comet caused i doubt life would exist in the forms that it has for millions of years if at all.

 

[rahvin]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Without the nifty tilt and wobble that that comet caused i doubt life would exist in the forms that it has for millions of years if at all.

That is very likely, the earths rotational period was only 6 hours before the moon was formed. Combine the lack of tilt and the short period and the earth would have likely remained inhospitable to life, but we probably won't ever know that for sure.

 

[iamme]

all the fatties in the U.S. throws the earth off axis.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: iamme
all the fatties in the U.S. throws the earth off axis.

Sorry.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: iamme
all the fatties in the U.S. throws the earth off axis.

Sorry.

no prob, just move to another hemisphere for a few milleniums. things should balance out

 

[Orsorum]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: iamme
all the fatties in the U.S. throws the earth off axis.

Sorry.

no prob, just move to another hemisphere for a few milleniums. things should balance out

I'd gladly live in South America. <3 Brazilian women!

 

[bleeb]

Originally posted by: Orsorum

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001

Originally posted by: iamme
all the fatties in the U.S. throws the earth off axis.

Sorry.

no prob, just move to another hemisphere for a few milleniums. things should balance out

I'd gladly live in South America. <3 Brazilian women!

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