Rapid Fire
Spherical Shape of Planets
- 29 May 2024
- 1 min read
The spherical shape of planets is largely attributed to the interplay of gravity and geometry.
- Gravity is the primary force shaping planets, compelling them into a spherical form due to their massive size.
- A sphere offers the most compact three-dimensional shape, minimising surface area for a given volume.
- While commonly referred to as spherical, planets and stars are actually oblate spheroids, slightly flattened at the poles due to centrifugal force from rotation.
- Rotation creates a centrifugal force, resulting in a slight bulge at the equator, making gravity weaker in this region compared to the poles.
- Gravity tends to shape celestial bodies into spheres, while smaller bodies such as comets and asteroids maintain irregular shapes due to stronger electromagnetic forces.
Read more: Comet C/2020 F3 Neowise
