eli5: How do things get into orbit?

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I know how they stay in orbit but how do random planets and stuff have the exact speed needed to get to orbit? Is it pure chance or some phenomenon that speds them up or slows them down?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

there isnt an “exact speed” to stay in orbit, just any specific orbit. so at the start of the solar system, every particle is in 1 of 3 states depending on speed. 1 Falling into the sun, 2 orbiting the sun, or 3 leaving the solar system. state 1 and 3 clear up fairly quickly leaving just particles already orbiting. These use gravity to form larger planets with the same orbit as the particles that made it up (on average).

so its random chance the orbits are what they are, but planets being in some orbit is basically guarenteed when a solar system is formed

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