eliptical orbits

[Bob Evans]

At 08:21 a.m. 7/04/2008 +1200, Terry wrote:

>can someone give me a simple reason why planets move in eliptical orbits.

It's just easier for something to get into an elliptical orbit than a 
circular one.  A circular orbit requires the body to have just the right 
speed at just the right angle at just the right height/distance.

>does it have something to do with the fact that the system is moving 
>through space?

That's a negative.

Bob Evans


R W Evans, 15 Taiepa Rd, Otatara RD 9, Invercargill 9879, New Zealand
Phone +64 3 2130329                                            Fax +64 3 
2130327
bevans at es.co.nz      http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~Sbevans/home.htm