Formation of the Solar System and Earth

Astronomers think that the solar system formed from an interstellar

• rocks

• clouds

• explosions

• debris

The density of gas in a collapsing interstellar cloud is low at first, but ____________________draws matter together until it is concentrated enough to form a star and possibly planets.

• space

• mass

• gravity

• dust

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Where is the concentration of matter the densest as an interstellar cloud collapses?

• A

• B

• C

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

The Sun formed when the dense concentration of gas and dust at the center of a rotating disk reached a temperature and pressure high enough to fuse hydrogen into

• carbon

• lava

• helium

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

The rotating disk surrounding the young Sun became our

• moon

• planet

• comet

• solar system

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Space objects built of solid particles that can form planets through collisions and mergers are called

• comets

• asteroids

• planetesimals

Theories of the origin of the solar system rely on direct ___________________ and data from probes.

• satellites

• observations

• stories

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

Select all that apply

Which are true about the terrestrial planets?

• They formed by the merging of planetesimals in the inner part of the main disk.

• They are composed of elements that did not vaporize.

• They formed by the merging of icy planetesimals near the outer part of the main disk.

• They are rocky and dense.

Early astronomers thought that the Sun, planets, and stars orbited a stationary Earth . This is known as the __________________ model of the solar system.

• Heliocentric

• Disk

• Geocentric

• Kepler

Which are space objects built of solid particles that can form planets through collisions and mergers?

• asteroids

• meteoroids

• planetesimals

• comets