How delicate is planetary gravitational balance?

Subject: How delicate is planetary gravitational balance?

Date: Sun Aug 22 11:32:18 1999
Posted by Michael Smith
Grade level: nonaligned School: No school entered.
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Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 935335938.As

Message:


In order to remain in a stable orbit, how critical is the balance of the mass and velocity of a planet relative to the distance of the star it is orbiting? For example, must Jupiter posess it's exact characteristics regarding mass, rotation and velocity to remain in it's particular orbit? Could another planet displaying different characteristics remain in the same orbit and ranking(?) from the Sun?

Re: How delicate is planetary gravitational balance?

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