The Nebular Theory of the origin of the Solar

System
Any model of Solar System formation
must explain the following facts:
1. All the orbits of the planets are prograde
(i.e. if seen from above the North pole of
the Sun they all revolve in a counter-
clockwise direction).
2. 2. All the planets (except Pluto) have

orbital planes that are inclined by less

than 6 degrees with respect to each other
(i.e. all in the same plane).
3. 3. Terrestrial planets are dense, rocky

and small, while jovian planets are

gaseous and large.
4. Solar system formed about 4.6 billion year

ago, when gravity pulled together low-

density cloud of interstellar gas and dust
(called a nebula)
5. The Orion Nebula, an interstellar cloud in

which star systems and possibly planets

are forming.
6. Initially the cloud was about several light

years across. A small overdensity in the

 cloud caused the contraction to begin and
the overdensity to grow, thus producing a
faster contraction --> run away or collapse
process
7. Initially, most of the motions of the cloud
particles were random, yet the nebula had
a net rotation. As collapse proceeded, the
rotation speed of the cloud was gradually
increasing due to conservation of angular
momentum.