Why are the Planets almost round?

[telectrix]

Said it before I could, as the earth spins the forces that are immense push the middle part out around its axis, hence the slight bulge when you look at distant pictures of earth from space.

RUBBISH. rthe bulge is childhood obesity, due to eating too many mcdonalds..

 

[buzzlightyear]

Cosmic Snow balls ,

yummy .my favourite .

 

[buzzlightyear]

repeat

 

[telectrix]

i hate coconut.comes in 1st place along with fish. 2nd placegoesto donkey snot, aka mayonaisse.

 

[buzzlightyear]

repeat

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Touchy aren't we?

All I'd say is we must be in the presence of some learned Astrophysicists.

Nah, just read a lot of Sci Fi.

 

[Midwest]

Nah, just read a lot of Sci Fi.

Flash Gordon & Spiderman taught you that?

 

[Darkwood]

The Earth is what is called an oblate spheroid, if you were to over exaggerate this shape it would look like a pear. The equatorial bulge is created as the earth spins and to quote basic science it is inertial forced acting against gravity (advanced physics does not use these terms and explains it more indepth), as the equator is the widest point of the spin axis it is also the fastest point at approx 1000mph.

The bulge is not perceptible even on the deep space observatory full image pics, you can though use a computer to accurately measure and reveal the bulge, given the diameter of the Earth is approx 8000miles and the equatorial bulge is about 27miles that gives you a bulge of about 0.3 %.

As others have already posted gravity is what shapes our planets and becomes evident over a certain mass becoming more spherical the larger it is unless effected by external forces that may change this like a collision or even an encounter with a larger mass object whose gravitational field is far superior, oh and running out of fuel like a sun collapsing and exploding.

 

[Squid]

I reckon some people have been busy Googling this afternoon.

Stuff that I have been on pornhub.............

 

[Squid]

The Earth is what is called an oblate spheroid, if you were to over exaggerate this shape it would look like a pear. The equatorial bulge is created as the earth spins and to quote basic science it is inertial forced acting against gravity (advanced physics does not use these terms and explains it more indepth), as the equator is the widest point of the spin axis it is also the fastest point at approx 1000mph.

The bulge is not perceptible even on the deep space observatory full image pics, you can though use a computer to accurately measure and reveal the bulge, given the diameter of the Earth is approx 8000miles and the equatorial bulge is about 27miles that gives you a bulge of about 0.3 %.

As others have already posted gravity is what shapes our planets and becomes evident over a certain mass becoming more spherical the larger it is unless effected by external forces that may change this like a collision or even an encounter with a larger mass object whose gravitational field is far superior, oh and running out of fuel like a sun collapsing and exploding.

I bet you get invited to a lot of parties ;o)))))

 

[Deleted member 26818]

As far as I am aware, an oblate spheroid does not look anything like a pear.
More like a satsuma or tangerine.

 

[static zap]

Of course it's flat at top and bottom , the ice has melted off !
(where " god" was holding it ?)
..melted ice lolly up your sleeve time of year..

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It’s an oblate spheroid because it rotates.
Centrifugal force causes it to bulge.
The faster a planet or star rotates, the more pronounced the effect becomes.
If the Earth were to rotate fast enough, it would become virtually flat.

 

[Richard Burns]

One of the key indicators the IAU specify to determine if an object is classed as a planet is if it of sufficient mass to assume a spherical shape, whereby the compression force of gravity can overcome the fluid dynamics of the objects structure and concentrate the mass toward the centre of the object in the most effective manner (a sphere).
Many asteroids are too small to become round and have very irregular shapes.

 

[StephenRowley]

Gravity, tectonic activity, varies forms of erosion.

The outer planets are mainly gas giants. So naturally they are round.



Also there not quite round the plantets tens to be bit squashed and also not very smooth. Some planet I believe Venus off the top of my head but don't quote me show massive cracks from something big smashing into it.