By that, I mean, why do planets always orbit… horizontally(?) around the sun. Why not vertically? Space is a 3D space, I’d course. So why would the planets not end up going up as well as sideways?
Edit: Space science is a lot more complicated than I thought, and I am here for this rabbit hole. Ty everyone for your answers so far!
In: 2352
1) It’s because it’s the net momentum of the entirety of the solar system. Initially it was all chaos with orbits all around 3D space in both directions. But as objects hit each other, they naturally tend to the overall net momentum of the whole system.
See for example [2:50 of this video](https://youtu.be/MTY1Kje0yLg?si=dbTwYx3xXhhLUJbx&t=168). Notice how at first, they are all orbiting at different directions, but eventually, they all tend to the same direction. The same effect happens even in 3D space.
2) It is not perfectly horizontal. There are some deviations. [Especially as you get further out into the solar system.](https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-a5f76425b453b2fb0edcec8e579d6a92-lq)
Latest Answers