# Why are galaxies flat since it's an unstable configuration in 3d? [duplicate]

I'll probably have to delete this question because someone's already asked it, but what accounts for the stable 2-d structure of spiral galaxies in three dimensional space (assuming random starting vectors)? The traditional centrifugal force answer doesn't account for the fact that purely Newtonian $n$-body simulations never evolve into flat disks.

Is it actually suggested that there is some non-Newtonian process to account for this? Or that spinning galaxies throw out stars from the center? I keep hearing a lot of bullshit.

[Edit: I'm keeping this answer for now as it is spurring some interesting discussion.]

• possible duplicate of Why are some galaxies flat? – John Rennie Sep 25 '15 at 4:58
• Why do you say n-body simulations give the wrong results? The EAGLE simulation has done very well in producing the observed galaxy structures. – John Rennie Sep 25 '15 at 5:30
• No, the values of $n$ you've used give non-planar results. Large scale simulations such as EAGLE give realistic results. Note that EAGLE use billions of particles. You won't get a decent treatment of phenomena like dynamical friction unless you work at this scale. – John Rennie Sep 25 '15 at 5:40
• See also Why doesn't my particle simulation end in a flat disc? and Why do 3d spheres and gravity tend to rotating discs on one plane? I'll note that galaxies consist of hundreds of billions of stars, so $n=3$ or even $n=1000$ isn't realistic. Also, there are all sorts of subtleties in the numerics (did you expect perfect flatness? are you using the right integrator? did you soften the potential?). – user10851 Sep 25 '15 at 5:40
• Voting to close as a duplicate, as the accepted answer here carefully explains that your few-body simulations are missing the dust component that will produce the results you expect. – Emilio Pisanty Sep 25 '15 at 11:41

First, watch this Minute Physics video as it provides a great explanation of why any rotating, disc-like object (the Solar System, galaxies, etc) tend to be roughly two-dimensional (disc-like). The bodies begin as a collection of rotating, colliding particles. Because the momentum in the $z$-direction is roughly zero, collisions among particles will conserve the $z$-momentum at zero. The preferred way for a system to do this is for the particles to collapse into a flatter distribution. However, Conservation of Angular Momentum dictates that the matter continues to rotate.
So this answers your question as stated, but you seem to actually be more concerned with why this can't be well-modeled. I suppose the unsatisfying answer is that the universe, and the matter within it, is a much more complex place than what your typical $n$-body simulation is capable of producing. The Milky Way galaxy contains 100 billion stars, not to mention other types of objects as well.