The Solar System and the Nebular Theory

Nebular Theory

So…how did the solar system form and end up with all these different types of objects? 

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Currently the best theory is the Nebular Theory . This states that the solar system developed out of an interstellar cloud of dust and gas, called a nebula .

Multiple Choice

How long does it take light from our Sun to reach Earth?

• 3 seconds

• 8 minutes

• 57 hours

• 1 year

Multiple Choice

Which elements are most

abundant in the visible

universe?

• Hydrogen and Carbon

• Carbon and Helium

• Hydrogen and Oxygen

• Hydrogen and Helium

Open Ended

What do you KNOW about how our solar system may have formed?

Open Ended

What do you WANT to know about how our solar system may have formed?

Multiple Choice

Galaxies are...

• getting closer to one another

• getting further apart from one another

• remaining the same distance from one another

Solar System Forms..

Our solar system formed about 4.5 billion years ago from a dense cloud of interstellar gas and dust (nebula).

The cloud collapsed, possibly due to the shockwave of a nearby exploding star, called a supernova.

When this dust cloud collapsed, it formed a solar nebula—a spinning, swirling disk of material.

Formation of our Solar System

• 1-2. Nebula (cloud of gas & dust) --> gravity pulls on this cloud = turbulence

• 3. Gravity collapses the nebula flat and begins to spin. Sun (H + He) forms in center = immense heat & gravity

• 4-5. A star is born, nuclear fusion, explosion of energy and matter....

• 6. Sun gobbles up most of the exploding matter (99%), but some escapes = protoplanets

A. Nebula turbulence & collapse B. Protostar explosion C. Protoplanets form D. Planets cool

Step by Step...

• a) About 4.5 bya, a dense cloud of interstellar gas & dust exists

• b) The cloud collapses inward, possibly due to the shockwave of supernova

• c) Protostar explosion

• d) 1% escapes = protoplanets

• e) Planets, moons, asteroids cool...

Multiple Choice

What materials are blasted away from the inner rocky planets by the sun's heat & solar winds ?

• Gamma Rays

• Plasma

• Ice and Gas

• Rocks

Multiple Choice

The most abundant gases in nebula are:

• Hydrogen & Oxygen

• Nitrogen & Oxygen

• Hydrogen & Helium

• Oxygen & Helium

Multiple Choice

A nebula starts to collapse inward because of:

• A nearby star shining it's light

• A passing spaceship

• A passing comet

• Gravity

Multiple Choice

Nebula turbulence/movement increases because:

• A nearby supernova

• Thanos

• A passing spaceship

• A passing comet

Multiple Select

A nebula collapses down into a disk called:

• A compact disk

• An accretion disk

• A protoplanetary disk

• A circular disk

Multiple Choice

The shape of the planets and dwarf planets after accumulating all their material is:

• Irregular

• A Sphere

• An Oval

• A disk

Multiple Choice

What percentage of the nebula did our Sun gobble up?

• 99%

• 1%

• 50%

• 75%

Multiple Choice

Intense pressure in the protosun (protostar) caused:

• Fire in the Sun to start

• Helium to break down into Hydrogen

• Nuclear Fusion to start

• Nuclear Fusion to end

Multiple Choice

How long ago did the nebular processes that formed our solar system start?

• 4.6 years ago

• 4.6 million years ago

• 5.6 billion years ago

• 4.6 billion years ago

Multiple Choice

The group of outer planets are known as:

• The Terrestrial Planets

• The Gas/Ice Giants

• The Inner Planets

• The Rocky Planets

Multiple Select

Why did the lighter elements stay in the Gas Giants?

• Their own gravity is strong enough to hold on to these elements.

• They are less dense.

• They are far from the sun so the solar wind does not affect these planets.

• Their own magnetic field attracts the gases strongly.

Multiple Choice

The group of inner planets are known as:

• The Terrestrial Planets

• The Gas Giants

• The Outer Planets

• The Hallow Planets

Multiple Choice

What caused the lighter elements (hydrogen, helium, etc..) to leave the terrestrial planets?

• Gravity from the Gas Giants

• Nothing, the lighter elements stayed

• Gravity from the Sun

• Heat from the Sun

Multiple Choice

The planetesimals keep:

• Colliding and breaking apart

• Colliding and sticking together

• Colliding and bouncing around

• Breaking down into smaller pieces

Multiple Choice

What is forming in the accretion/protoplanetary disk away from the center?

• Light

• Protostars

• Planetesimals

• Hydrogen

Multiple Choice

What forms in the center of the accretion/protoplanetary disk?

• A protostar

• A planet

• A protoplanet

• A planetesimal

Multiple Choice

As a nebula collapses it also :

• Expands

• Rotates

• Shakes

• Turn to ices

Multiple Choice

The Nebular Theory is:

• A theory on how the Milky Way galaxy was formed

• A theory on how the universe was formed

• A theory on how the solar system will be destroyed

• A theory on how the solar system was formed

Multiple Choice

How long ago did the Big Bang occur?

• 4.6 million years ago

• 4.6 billion years ago

• 13.7 million years ago

• 13.7 billion years ago