Post on 13-Jun-2022
Notes # 1 Formation of the
Solar System
Be able to explain the evidence
used to describe the formation and
early history of Earth.
1. The solar system formed from a
rotating cloud of dust and gas called a
nebula that condensed due to gravity.
How do we know the
nebula was spinning?
Spinning caused the
solar system to flatten
into a plane
1. The solar system formed from a rotating cloud
of dust and gas called a nebula that condensed
due to gravity.
In the center of the solar system a very dense
concentration of gas formed called a protostar
2. While a protostar formed in the
center of the solar system planets
formed in the disk.
Planetesimals (planet forming
chunks of rock) formed as
matter condensed around the
rotating disk
When nuclear fusion began,
heat from the sun causes
gases with low melting
temperatures to be pushed out
into the outer parts of the solar
system where they become
gassy planetesimals
2. While a protostar formed in the
center of the solar system planets
formed in the disk.
Near the sun, rocky planetesimals grew into rocky
protoplanets
Farther from the sun, gassy protoplanets formed
Some planetessimals do not collect in the planets
and are leftover: asteroids, comets
3. Observations of the solar system
provide evidence for Earth’s early
formation history. Craters on planets like Mercury
show that the planets were bombarded early in the formation of the solar system
Planets like Earth and Mars have few craters because the surface was changed by erosion; shows the bombardment ended long ago
The solar system formed all at the same time so the age of Earth (4.6 billion years) is determined from the age of other solar system objects
Video if wanted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKM
0P3XlMNA&list=PL8dPuuaLjXtPAJr1ys
d5yGIyiSFuh0mIL&index=9
Start at 5:30