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How Was the Solar System Formed?
By Patti Hutchison
How did the solar system form?
Scientists have studied this question
for many years. They have learned
much from studying our own planet
and solar system. They have also
studied other solar systems in the
universe to find clues.
Today, scientists generally believe
our solar system began about 4.6
billion years ago. It started out as a
spinning cloud of gas and dust.
Something caused the materials to
begin to clump together. Scientists think maybe it was a shockwave
from a supernova.
A supernova is a highly energetic explosion. It occurs at the end of a
very large star's life. Its nuclear fuel is gone, and it does not release
any more nuclear energy. The core of the star collapses and releases a
huge amount of energy. Scientists believe this was the shock that
made the material in the cloud come together.
Smaller particles bunched together, forming larger objects. The
density became greater in the center of the huge cloud. The cloud
flattened like a disk because of the constant spinning motion.
As the disk continued to spin over millions of years, the mass in the
center continued to grow. The temperature increased. Eventually it
caught fire, and nuclear fusion began. This event was the birth of our
Sun.
The disk continued to spin. It contained all the gas and dust that did
not go into the formation of the Sun. In this spinning cloud were
minerals, water, and organic molecules such as methane. The
materials continued to collide, forming larger and larger bodies.
Eventually they formed the rocky inner planets. These include
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are the closest planets to the
Farther from the Sun, the temperature was very cold. Water froze into
ice. Chunks of ice bumped into each other. Gas and dust were swept
along. Eventually, the gas giant planets were formed. They include
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Farther out in space, there was not as much matter. There were not as
many collisions. Objects that were formed were smaller than the
planets. The Oort Cloud and the Kuiper Belt are in this region of the
solar system. Here is where the dwarf planets, comets, and other icy
objects exist.
We now know our solar system contains eight planets. There are also
dwarf planets. We know of at least 178 moons, as well as numerous
comets and asteroids. It is a remarkable place.
Scientists have studied the cosmos for thousands of years. They once
believed that the Earth was the center of the universe with the Sun and
all the planets revolving around it. Little by little, we are charting the
universe. Space missions are constantly finding out more about what's
out there and how it got there.
How Was the Solar System Formed?
Questions
1. A highly energetic explosion at the end of a very large star's
life is called:
A. the cosmos
B. an asteroid
C. a supernova
2. The temperature increase in the middle of the spinning disk of
dust caused the formation of:
A. clouds
B. asteroids
C. the Sun
Tell in your own words how the rocky inner planets were formed.
Name
3. Minerals, water, and organic materials formed the:
A. gas giant planets
B. Sun
C. rocky inner planets
4. Name the four gas giant planets.
5. Why were objects that formed farther out in space smaller than
the planets?
6. How many moons do we know of in the solar system?
A. 4.6 billion
B. at least 178
C. 8