Six Steps Involved In The Formation Of The Solar System

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Question 1:

List and briefly describe each of the six steps involved in the formation of the solar system.

Response:

Step 1: Gravitational Collapse

An interstellar cloud of gas that is known as the solar nebula collapsed under its own gravity. The collapse may have been caused by a cataclysmic event. After that, gravity allowed the collapse to continue. This lead to the heating, spinning and flattening of the solar nebula. The Sun formed in the center of the collapsing solar nebula where the temperatures and densities were at their highest. The spinning ensured that the solar nebula did not collapse all of its material into the center. This allowed the material to be spread out more. Finally, the solar nebula was flattened into a disk. …show more content…

However, this mix of elements did not always exist. From the time of the Big Bang until shortly after galaxies began to form a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, the only elements in the universe were hydrogen and helium (with very small amounts of lithium and beryllium). All other elements were created much later by stellar nucleosynthesis in evolving and exploding stars.

What are the consequences for the formation of stellar and planetary systems during the first years of the Galaxy? Could our solar system have formed then?

Explain.

Response:

The formation of these early stellar and planetary systems allowed for heavier elements to be introduced into the universe. When stars exploded, the heavier elements generated in the cores of these stars were expelled into the universe. Our solar system could not have formed then because much of our solar system is made from the heavier elements.

Question 3:

Suppose the solar wind had cleared away the solar nebula before the seeds of the Jovian planets could gravitationally draw in hydrogen and helium gas. How would the planets of the outer solar system be different? Would they still have many moons? Explain.

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