Explaining Planetary Spin: Insights and Mathematical Considerations

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ian
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Planets Spin
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the reasons behind the varying rotational velocities of planets, specifically why Earth spins approximately 365 times during its orbital revolution while Jupiter spins around 1200 times. It is suggested that the planets' rotation is a result of the asymmetrical collapse of the gas and dust cloud from which the solar system formed. The mathematical modeling of these rotational dynamics is complex, as small changes in initial conditions can lead to significant differences in outcomes, and accurate simulations are still lacking. The relationship between a planet's mass, density, and rotation velocity is questioned, indicating that while there may be some correlation, the chaotic nature of planetary formation complicates this. Ultimately, understanding planetary spin requires considering the intricate conditions present during the early solar system's formation.
Ian
Messages
88
Reaction score
1
I was hoping that someone might give an insight to this on another thread concerning the moon, but no luck there.
Can anyone give me a plausible reason as to why the planets rotate at their particular velocities, e.g. why does the Earth spin ~365 times per orbital revolution, or why does Jupiter spin ~1200 times per orbital revolution?
If anyone has an answer can they please back their views up with some maths.

Thanks.
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
The planets spin for the same reason they orbit: the cloud of gas and dust the solar system collapsed from was asymetrical and therefore rotating.

The particular maths are tough though: you need to infer some starting conditions and small changes in starting conditions lead to big changes in the result. People are working on it, but I don't think there yet exists an accurate computer model/simulation of our solar system's formation.
 
That was a bit quick on the draw! I only posted this a few minutes ago.
Thanks for your ideas. By what you said it sounds as though the rotation is related to the planetary mass or density. If this is so then there ought to be some relation between mass and rotation velocity.
 
Maybe, but if you think about how the planets were formed - accretion followed by planetisimal collisions (except the gas giants?) - it would seem quite unlikely that a tight relationship would fall out naturally.

The Earth may be a good example - either way! No doubt there is a fairly well bounded region in the proto-Earth/proto-Moon parameter space that would give rise to an Earth-Moon system, and that region may also pretty much determine the initial rotation period of the Earth (and period of revolution of the Moon) - which, ~4.5 billion years later, gives us today's rates - but the extent to which the parameter space region is determined by the initial conditions of the proto-solar nebula?
 
Nereid's explanation was what I meant when I said it was tough to model: there was a lot going on when the solar system formed.
 

Thread 'Potential biosignature found in Mars rock'

Publication: Redox-driven mineral and organic associations in Jezero Crater, Mars Article: NASA Says Mars Rover Discovered Potential Biosignature Last Year Press conference The ~100 authors don't find a good way this could have formed without life, but also can't rule it out. Now that they have shared their findings with the larger community someone else might find an explanation - or maybe it was actually made by life.
View full post »

Thread 'Does it make sense to build new radio telescopes?'

TL;DR Summary: In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect alien signals, it will further expand the radius of the so-called silence (or rather, radio silence) of the Universe. Is there any sense in this or is blissful ignorance better? In 3 years, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope (or rather, a system of telescopes) should be put into operation. In case of failure to detect...
View full post »
Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

Thread 'Could gamma-ray bursts have an intragalactic origin?'

This is indirectly evidenced by a map of the distribution of gamma-ray bursts in the night sky, made in the form of an elongated globe. And also the weakening of gamma radiation by the disk and the center of the Milky Way, which leads to anisotropy in the possibilities of observing gamma-ray bursts. My line of reasoning is as follows: 1. Gamma radiation should be absorbed to some extent by dust and other components of the interstellar medium. As a result, with an extragalactic origin, fewer...
View full post »

Similar threads

Insights 3 Possible Models For Why Uranus Spins on Its Side
Replies
14
Views
4K
I Tidal forces acting on planet NGTS-10b
Replies
2
Views
3K
I Rotation rates of planets seem odd?
Replies
10
Views
2K
I Would the rogue planet in this picture slow Earths spin?
Replies
14
Views
3K
How Can Planetary Movements Affect Time and Illumination on an Inhabited Planet?
Replies
45
Views
5K
I New Developments In The Search For Planet X
Replies
2
Views
3K
A N-Body Simulations of Chaos in the Orbits of Trappist System Planets
Replies
12
Views
2K
B Where Can I Find Accurate Planetary Event Data for an Astronomy Course?
Replies
5
Views
2K
B Can a Planet Have a Moon that Never Casts a Shadow?
Replies
19
Views
3K
I How Can We Measure Properties of Distant Planets and Stars?
Replies
12
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top