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According to the Nebular Hypothesis, what is the initial stage of solar system formation?
According to the Nebular Hypothesis, what is the initial stage of solar system formation?
What evidence supports the Nebular Hypothesis?
What evidence supports the Nebular Hypothesis?
What happens to the material deep inside the nebula?
What happens to the material deep inside the nebula?
What is the remaining material after a star is formed called?
What is the remaining material after a star is formed called?
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What is the process of particles hitting and sticking together called?
What is the process of particles hitting and sticking together called?
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What do the particles in the debris cloud sometimes form through gravitational attraction?
What do the particles in the debris cloud sometimes form through gravitational attraction?
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What do the boulders in the debris cloud grow massive enough to form?
What do the boulders in the debris cloud grow massive enough to form?
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What did the proto-Earth look like in the early stages of planetary formation?
What did the proto-Earth look like in the early stages of planetary formation?
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What is the Nebular Hypothesis currently classified as?
What is the Nebular Hypothesis currently classified as?
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Which two planetary bodies are mentioned as examples of remnants from early Solar System formation?
Which two planetary bodies are mentioned as examples of remnants from early Solar System formation?
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What happened to the composition of proto-Earth over time?
What happened to the composition of proto-Earth over time?
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What is the estimated age of the formation of the rocky planets in the inner Solar System?
What is the estimated age of the formation of the rocky planets in the inner Solar System?
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What is the size of proto-planets when they can start pulling in more material?
What is the size of proto-planets when they can start pulling in more material?
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Where are Vesta and Ceres located in the Solar System?
Where are Vesta and Ceres located in the Solar System?
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What is the process called when heavier elements sink toward the center of a proto-planet?
What is the process called when heavier elements sink toward the center of a proto-planet?
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What are Vesta and Ceres considered to be?
What are Vesta and Ceres considered to be?
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What is the region between Mars and Jupiter called where Vesta and Ceres are located?
What is the region between Mars and Jupiter called where Vesta and Ceres are located?
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What is the term for the remnants left over from early Solar System formation?
What is the term for the remnants left over from early Solar System formation?
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What is the estimated age of the Solar System?
What is the estimated age of the Solar System?
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Study Notes
Nebular Hypothesis Overview
- Initial stage of solar system formation involves a rotating nebula of gas and dust collapsing under gravity.
- Currently classified as a widely accepted model explaining solar system formation.
Evidence Supporting the Nebular Hypothesis
- Observations of protoplanetary disks around young stars provide visual evidence of similar processes.
- Data from meteorites and other celestial bodies reveal consistent compositions that align with the model.
Material within the Nebula
- Material deep inside the nebula becomes denser and begins to heat up as gravity compresses it.
- After star formation, the remaining material is referred to as the protoplanetary disk.
Formation Processes
- Particles colliding and sticking together is known as accretion.
- In a debris cloud, gravitational attraction occasionally leads to the formation of larger particles or bodies.
Growth of Protoplanets
- As boulders in the debris cloud accumulate mass, they can grow massive enough to become protoplanets.
- The proto-Earth initially resembled a molten mass due to high temperatures from collisions and radioactive decay.
Composition Changes
- Over time, the composition of proto-Earth evolved as differentiation occurred, leading heavier elements to sink towards the center.
Age Estimates
- The formation of rocky planets in the inner Solar System is estimated to have occurred about 4.5 billion years ago.
- The entire Solar System is estimated to be around 4.6 billion years old.
Size and Location of Planetary Bodies
- Proto-planets can start pulling in material effectively when reaching sizes comparable to a few hundred kilometers in diameter.
- Vesta and Ceres are located in the asteroid belt, situated between Mars and Jupiter.
Remnants and Classifications
- The remnants left over from early Solar System formation are referred to as planetesimals.
- Vesta and Ceres are considered to be prime examples of these remnants.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the Nebular Hypothesis of Solar System Formation. Explore the evidence supporting this hypothesis and see how it differs from a scientific theory.
