Nebular Theory

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What is the Nebular Theory?

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The Nebular Theory is a model that explains the formation of the solar system from a rotating cloud of gas and dust, known as a nebula.

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What is a nebula?

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A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, which can be the birthplace of stars and planets.

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What is an astronomical unit (AU)?

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An astronomical unit is the average distance between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.

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What event caused the nebula to collapse and form the solar system?

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The collapse of the nebula was triggered by the explosion of a nearby star, known as a supernova.

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What is Kepler's 1st Law?

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Kepler's 1st Law states that planets move in elliptical orbits around the Sun, with the Sun at one of the foci.

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What is the nebular hypothesis?

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The nebular hypothesis is the prediction that the solar system formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust.

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What role do gravity and pressure play in the formation of the solar system?

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Gravity pulls the gas and dust together, while pressure from the collapsing material leads to the formation of stars and planets.

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What is the significance of the solar nebula in the Nebular Theory?

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The solar nebula is the cloud of gas and dust from which the solar system formed, providing the material for the Sun and planets.

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What is the difference between a light year and an astronomical unit?

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A light year is the distance light travels in one year, while an astronomical unit is the average distance from the Earth to the Sun.

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What are protoplanets?

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Protoplanets are large bodies of matter that form in the early stages of the solar system and eventually become planets.