Star Ping Pong

Star Ping Pong

Does a planet's orbit around its star get progressively longer, shorter, or does it remain static?

If we think of a large funnel (representing space-time) with a ping-pong ball in the center (representing a star) and spin a marble (representing an orbiting planet) around the side of the funnel, the marble would get closer to the ping pong ball with each successive revolution.

Does the same hold true for orbiting planets?

If not, why not?

No. The problem with the ping-pong ball analogy is the ping-pong ball rolling around will eventually slow down due to friction, and the pull of the Earth's gravity pulling it toward the center of the cone.

In space there are a number of variables that can cause a number of different results. If there were a lot of dust in a solar system, it might cause sufficient drag that after a few million or billion years an planet's orbit could deteriorate. Also, depending upon the size and eccentricity of an planet's orbit and the size of other planets and their orbits, a planet could get larger (or smaller) over time.

Computer model indicate that the planets in the early solar system were not located where they are now. In particular, Uranus and Neptune were apparently formed much closer to the Sun than where they are now. Planetary systems seem to be constantly evolving and changing and will continue to do so.

Current theories on planetary formation do not adequately explain the existence of hot-Jupiters orbiting insanely close to their parent star or how these orbits could remain stable over any period of time.

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