The Origin of the Solar System

Formation of the Solar System

1. Nebular hypothesis

The birthplace of our solar system was a NEBULA

- A nebula is a “fuzzy” patch in the sky, either light or dark; a cloud of gas

and dust
- Our solar system evolved from a swirling cloud of dust (Nebular Theory)
- Gravity caused the gases and dust to be drawn together into a denser
cloud (rate of rotation increased)

As a result the cloud collapsed to resemble a disk. Most of the mass

collapsed in the center
Matter in the rest of the disk clumped together to form planetesimals =
protoplanetary bodies
Hydrogen gas combined or fused to form helium atoms (nuclear fusion – a
source of energy from the sun!)
The Sun was born!!!
2. Planetesimal Theory

Videoclip:

Planetesimals- A very tightly knit family - Our Solar System.mp4

A widely accepted theory of planet formation, the so-called planetesimal

hypotheses, the Chamberlin–Moulton planetesimal hypothesis and that of
Viktor Safronov, states that planets form out of cosmic dust grains that collide
and stick to form larger and larger bodies. When the bodies reach sizes of
approximately one kilometer, then they can attract each other directly
through their mutual gravity, enormously aiding further growth into moon-sized
protoplanets. This is how planetesimals are often defined.]
Bodies that are smaller than planetesimals must rely on Brownian motion or
turbulent motions in the gas to cause the collisions that can lead to sticking.
Alternatively, planetesimals may form in a very dense layer of dust grains that
undergoes a collective gravitational instability in the mid-plane of a
protoplanetary disk or via the concentration and gravitational collapse of
swarms of larger particles in streaming instabilities. Many planetesimals
eventually break apart during violent collisions, as may have happened to 4
Vesta[2] and 90 Antiope,[3] but a few of the largest planetesimals may survive
such encounters and continue to grow into protoplanets and later planets.
It is generally thought that about 3.8 billion years ago, after a period known as
the Late Heavy Bombardment, most of the planetesimals within the
Solar System had either been ejected from the Solar System entirely, into
distant eccentric orbits such as the Oort cloud, or had collided with larger
objects due to the regular gravitational nudges from the giant planets
(particularly Jupiter and Neptune). A few planetesimals may have been
captured as moons, such as Phobos and Deimos (the moons of Mars), and many
of the small high-inclination moons of the giant planets.
Planetesimals that have survived to the current day are valuable to science
because they contain information about the formation of the Solar System.
Although their exteriors are subjected to intense solar radiation that can
alter their chemistry, their interiors contain pristine material essentially
untouched since the planetesimal was formed. This makes each planetesimal
a 'time capsule', and their composition might reveal the conditions in the
Solar Nebula from which our planetary system was formed.
3. Tidal Theory

Tidal theory of the origin of the solar system, involving the approach near
the Sun of another star. This set up tidal forces, and the instability of the
Sun resulted in part of its mass being torn off to form the planets. The
theory was proposed by Sir James H. Jeans (1877–1946) and Sir Harold
Jeffreys.
4. The protoplanet hypothesis suggests that about 5 billion years ago a great
cloud of gas and dust rotated slowly in space. The cloud was at least 10 billion

kilometers in diameter. As time passed, the cloud shrank under the pull of its
own gravitation or was made to collapse by the explosion of a passing star.
Earth and Life Science

Thank you!!!
The Earth and Earth Systems
Earth as the Only Habitable Planet
 
Our solar system is composed of the sun and the eight planets revolving
around it. Among those eight planets, only one can support life- Earth. But how
come earth can support life and the other planets cannot?
 
There are two major requirements for a planet to be considered habitable.
First, the star should survive long enough for its planet to develop life. Second, the
planet should exist in a region where water could remain liquid.
 
The first requirement indicates that massive stars would have the least
possibility to have habitable planets since it can live a short amount of time. The
second requirement entails that the planet must be located in the Goldilocks
Zone. Being in the Goldilocks Zone indicates that the distance of Earth from the
sun is just right that the amount of energy received is just enough to make the
temperature of Earth neither too hot nor too cold.
 
It is also important to note that Earth’s distance from the sun, allows earth to
hold water in its liquid form.
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
Earth Systems
* PONDER ON THIS

Looking at this picture below, what can you say about the four subsystems of the earth ?
Sept.21, 2021
Tuesday ACTIVITY

Describe interactions in this scene, tracing the movement of materials or

energy through all four of Earth's spheres if possible.
Example: Plants (biosphere) draw or take water (hydrosphere) and nutrients
from the soil (geosphere) and release water vapor into the atmosphere.
SUMMARY:
Earth as the Only Habitable Planet
 
Our solar system is composed of the sun and the eight planets revolving
around it. Among those eight planets, only one can support life- Earth. But how
come earth can support life and the other planets cannot?
 
There are two major requirements for a planet to be considered habitable.
First, the star should survive long enough for its planet to develop life. Second, the
planet should exist in a region where water could remain liquid.
 
The first requirement indicates that massive stars would have the least
possibility to have habitable planets since it can live a short amount of time. The
second requirement entails that the planet must be located in the Goldilocks
Zone. Being in the Goldilocks Zone indicates that the distance of Earth from the
sun is just right that the amount of energy received is just enough to make the
temperature of Earth neither too hot nor too cold.
 
It is also important to note that Earth’s distance from the sun, allows earth to
hold water in its liquid form.

* Note: Describe the interrelationship of the 4 subsystems of earth. How does one