Written on 29/03/2026
Pluto, the dwarf planet, has a elliptical orbit that takes it far beyond the orbit of Neptune. If Pluto were to replace Earth's orbit, it would have large problems for our solar system and the conditions on our planet. While I am still learning Physics, I cannot fully predict the consequences of changes like temperature, atmosphere changes etc.
Before we can understand the implications of Pluto replacing Earth's orbit, we need to consider several key factors:
According to NASA's Pluto Facts, Pluto has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it far beyond the orbit of Neptune. Pluto is also ~39 AU from the Sun.
Earth, on the other hand, is located at an average distance of about 1 AU from the Sun. Earth's orbit is nearly circular and it takes approximately 365.25 days to complete one orbit around the Sun. Pluto is 1.31 x 10^22 kilogrammes in mass( about 0.002 times Earth's mass).
To experiment with these concepts, I will use PhET's Solar System simulation to predict the outcomes of such a significant change in our solar system. Unfortunately, PhET only allows for the simulation of a minimum number of mass for planets(0.1 * 10^28kg). We are going to assume that Pluto's mass is 0.1 * 10^28kg for the sake of this experiment, which is much higher than its actual mass. This will allow us to observe the effects of Pluto's orbit more clearly in the simulation. We will also assume that Pluto maintains its current velocity (4 km/s) and orbital characteristics as it replaces Earth's orbit.
In an unsuprising turn of events, Pluto has crashed into the Sun! It turns out that standing still in a gravity well is just a very slow way of volunteering to be solar fuel.
As any physicist knows, velocity can act as a force repelling aginst gravity. Without velocity, the object will spirl to the host!
But we want more! What if Pluto took Earth's velocity? We also forgot how neighbouring planets would be affected!
The Earth has a velocity of approximately 29.8 km/s in its orbit around the Sun. Pluto having the same velocity as Earth would mean that it would have enough kinetic energy to counteract the Sun's gravitational pull, allowing it to maintain a stable orbit around the Sun.
Since the Plutonians have survived this time, a fall into the nueclar fusion ball of death, we can know focus on the effects on the neighboring planets!
With Pluto taking Earth's velocity, I added Jupiter and Mars to the simulation. The New solar system is very unstable, with Mars and Pluto colliding after 13 years. Jupiter is also ejected from the solar system after a few decades.
After exploring the potential consequences of moving Pluto, it is clear that such an action would have catastrophic effects on our solar system. The instability caused by Pluto's new orbit would lead to collisions between planets, the ejection of planets from the solar system or Pluto falling into the Sun. Therefore, it is strongly advised that Pluto remain in its current orbit.
Besides, we’ve already taken away its "planet" status. Let’s not take away its literal place in the universe, too.