Because they can't do otherwise. It's impossible for a perfectly circular orbit because the tendency is for them to "fly" away. The only options are circular and fly away so the compromise is eliptical.
Of course, I don't know how to say that with math. I only know because I used to work as a professional note-taker for students in college and one of the linear algebra classes I sat in discussed this very thing.
Because they can't do otherwise. It's impossible for a perfectly circular orbit because the tendency is for them to "fly" away. The only options are circular and fly away so the compromise is eliptical.
Of course, I don't know how to say that with math. I only know because I used to work as a professional note-taker for students in college and one of the linear algebra classes I sat in discussed this very thing.
Because they can't do otherwise. It's impossible for a perfectly circular orbit because the tendency is for them to "fly" away. The only options are circular and fly away so the compromise is eliptical.
Of course, I don't know how to say that with math. I only know because I used to work as a professional note-taker for students in college and one of the linear algebra classes I sat in discussed this very thing.