Formation Of The Solar System PDF

Formation of the Solar System Objective: Explore and discuss the different scientific models that explain the creation of our solar system The solar system is located in the Milky Way Galaxy, orbiting at distance of 28,000 light years from its center and revolving around it once in about 24o...

Formation of the Solar System Objective: Explore and discuss the different scientific models that explain the creation of our solar system The solar system is located in the Milky Way Galaxy, orbiting at distance of 28,000 light years from its center and revolving around it once in about 24o million years. The solar nebular hypothesis describes the formation of our solar system from a nebula cloud made from a collection of dust and gas. It is believed that the sun, planets, moons, and asteroids were formed around the same time around 4.5 billion years ago from a nebula.  Ptolemy’s Cycles and Epicycles - Ptolemy used epicycles to try to explain the apparent change in motion of the planets within their orbits. Planets appear to slow down, go in reverse, and then continue along their orbital paths in the night sky over extended periods of observation. It is Elliptical Orbits of all planets According to Kepler, the orbital path of every planet is an ellipse 1ˢᵗ law but he also realized that it is only very slightly elliptical. A planetary orbit is actually far from being an oval; it is closer to a circle. In the mathematical terms, the orbital ellipse is said to have a low eccentricity. For example, the average eccentricity of earth’s orbit is 0.017. This means that its orbits is only 1.7% elliptical and 98.3% circular. Mercury speeds around the sun every 88 Earth days, traveling through space at nearly 112,000 mph (180,000 km/h), faster than any other planet. Its oval-shaped orbit is highly elliptical, taking Mercury as close as 29 million miles (47 million km) and as far as 43 million miles (70 million km) from the sun Venus revolves or orbits around the Sun once every 0.615 Earth years, or once every 224.7 Earth days. Venus travels at an average speed of 78,341 miles per hour or 126,077 kilometers per hour in its orbit around the Sun Earth orbits the Sun at an average distance of 149.60 million km (92.96 million mi), or 8.317 light- minutes, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from above the Northern Hemisphere. One complete orbit takes 365.256 days (1 sidereal year), during which time Earth has traveled 940 million km (584 million mi). Mars revolves or orbits around the Sun once every 1.88 Earth years, or once every 686.93 Earth days. Mars travels at an average speed of 53,979 miles per hour or 86,871 kilometers per hour in its orbit around the Sun Jupiter revolves or orbits around the Sun once every 11.86 Earth years, or once every 4,330.6 Earth days. Jupiter travels at an average speed of 29,236 miles per hour or 47,051 kilometers per hour in its orbit around the Sun. One day on Saturn takes only 10.7 hours (the time it takes for Saturn to rotate or spin around once), and Saturn makes a complete orbit around the Sun (a year in Saturnian time) in about 29.4 Earth years (10,756 Earth days). Uranus makes a complete orbit around the Sun (a year in Uranian time) in about 84 Earth years (30,687 Earth days). Uranus is the only planet whose equator is nearly at a right angle to its orbit, with a tilt of 97.77 degrees. This may be the result of a collision with an Earth- sized object long ago Orbit and RotationOne day on Neptune takes about 16 hours (the time it takes for Neptune to rotate or spin once). And Neptune makes a complete orbit around the Sun (a year in Neptunian time) in about 165 Earth years (60,190 Earth days)