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NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS
Unit #2
Nebula
⦿
Birthplace of all stars and solar systems
⦿ Interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen,
helium and other ionized gases
Beginning of a Solar System
⦿
The gases and dust begin to collapse
inward due to gravitational forces
⦿ At the beginning of this collapse we form
a SOLAR NEBULA.
Solar Nebula
⦿
Rotating cloud of gas and dust from
which the sun and planets are formed.
Flattening of the solar nebula
⦿
As the solar nebula rotates, it flattens
and becomes warmer near the center.
⦿ When the center reaches about 10,000
degrees Celsius (about 18,000 degrees
F) and hydrogen fusion begins, a STAR
is born.
Cooling of Nebular Cloud
⦿
Small particles begin colliding and
accreting into small asteroid sized
bodies known as PLANETESIMALS.
Planetesimals Grow
⦿
As these planetesimals grow, their
gravitational pull increases causing
more collisions with dust, gas and other
planetesimals.
Protoplanets are born
⦿
Smaller planetesimals begin to collide
with larger ones forming
PROTOPLANETS.
Solar System Forms
⦿
After millions to billions of years of
collisions, the protoplanets grow and
evolve into what we know as our
PLANETS.
Moons/Satellites
⦿
The smaller bodies that orbit the planets
are known as MOONS or SATELLITES.