No one knows for sure why the Earth’s axis is tilted, but many theorize that it was the result of a collision with a large planetoid during the last stages of Earth’s formation over 4.5 billion years ago.
The theory is that the impact with this small, rocky planet not only knocked Earth to a tilt but also tore away a chunk of Earth, forming the moon.
Time and spinning smoothed Earth’s and the moon’s surfaces back into a sphere. Or so the theory goes.
Regardless, this tilt gives Earth the seasonal variations necessary to support the variety of lifefrom plants to animals.
Related Posts
-
What Is the Axial Tilt of Uranus and Why Is the Axis of Uranus Tilted At Such an Extreme Angle?
Uranus has an axial tilt of 97.77 degrees, and its axis of rotation is close to parallel with the plane of the Solar System. Near the time of Uranian solstices, one pole faces…
-
How Is the Planet Uranus’s Rotation Tilted On Its Axis and What Does a Retrograde Rotation Mean?
The planet Uranus's axis is tilted in a peculiar way. Earth's axis tilts at 23.5°; Uranus's axis tilts at 97.9°, which is at more than a right (90°) angle. Imagine Earth's poles being…
-
What Is the Best Way To Demonstrate How the Planet Uranus Is Tilted On Its Axis With a Sphere?
To get a sense of Uranus's unique rotation and revolution, you may want to create a model of it. This is easy enough to do. Find a ball, or other spherical object, and…
-
Why Does the Earth Tilt 23 Degrees On its Axis and Do Other Planets In the Solar System Tilt?
Scientists believe the earth's tilt results from the impact of another celestial body during the later stages of the formation of the solar system. The planets are believed to have formed when smaller…
-
How Fast Does Jupiter Rotate On Its Axis and Why Does the Atmosphere On Jupiter Rotate At Different Speeds?
The planet Jupiter's rotation is the fastest of all the Solar System's planets. Jupiter does not rotate as a solid body does, all at the same speed, because it is made out of…
-
How Fast Does the Planet Saturn Rotate Around Its Axis and Why Is Saturn’s Rotational Speed Variable?
Because Saturn is made mostly of gas, it has varying rotation speeds. Because Earth is solid, its rotation period is 24 hours at every latitude. Latitudes nearer the poles, however, have a shorter…
