Formation of the Solar System

Formation of the Solar System

1. Formation of the Solar System Globular Nebular Hypothesis Dust Cloud Theory Solar Nebula

2. The Nebula A long time ago there was a cloud of gas and dust in space. This cloud was called a “ planetary nebula ”. This nebula began to condense in on itself by its own gravity . What may have caused this? The left over outer layer of gas and dust from a Red Giant . A supernova from a white dwarf or nearby star that ended its life violently.

3. Compression and Flattening The clouds compress and angular momentum caused the cloud to spin faster and faster. Similar to an ice skater who compresses herself. The cloud started to flatten out into a disc shape. Like tossing a pizza.

4. Heating – The Sun Forms The compression caused the cloud to heat up a lot! The middle gets so hot that fusion begins and the star starts to form. This “early sun” was called a “ protostar ”.

5. The Planets Form Eventually chunks of gooey star material begin to stick to one another and come together like gooey cookie dough . This is called accretion (the collision and sticking of cooled microscopic dust and ice particles).

6. The Planets Form These chunks are called “ planetesimals ”. Planetesimals are the building blocks of planets. Planetesimals form by capturing material out of the nebula as it cooled .

7. Inner vs. Outer Planets The type of planets and what they are made of depend on the temperature .

8. WARMER COOLER

9. WARMER COOLER

10. Solar Wind – the remaining gas and dust was blown away.