Birth of the Solar System (47)

Took billions of years to form. Took billions of years to form. Sun: ~5 billion years old. Sun: ~5 billion years old. Earth: ~4.5 billion years old. Earth: ~4.5 billion years old.

How did the solar system form? 1. Began as a nebula. Had to be enough mass and not too spread out. Had to be enough mass and not too spread out. Gravity had to be able bring matter together to form sun & planets. Gravity had to be able bring matter together to form sun & planets.

2. Nebula Contraction Gravity pulled nebula into a flattened pancake with a bulge in the middle. Gravity pulled nebula into a flattened pancake with a bulge in the middle. May have happened naturally. May have happened naturally. Supernova may have pushed matter together and then gravity began working. Supernova may have pushed matter together and then gravity began working.

3. Local Condensation Rings of matter began to form around the central bulge (protostar). Rings of matter began to form around the central bulge (protostar). Rings would eventually form planets and moons. Rings would eventually form planets and moons.

3. Local Condensation (cont.) Terrestrial (Land) Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. Terrestrial (Land) Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars. Asteroid Belt Asteroid Belt Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

4. Planet Formation Rings of matter began to clump together to form larger masses called planetesimals. Rings of matter began to clump together to form larger masses called planetesimals. Planetesimals became larger by orbiting the protostar and sweeping up any matter in the orbit. Planetesimals became larger by orbiting the protostar and sweeping up any matter in the orbit. Eventually became planets. Eventually became planets.

5. The Sun is Born! Sun’s temperature reaches critical temperature (~18 million o F) and begins fusion. Sun’s temperature reaches critical temperature (~18 million o F) and begins fusion. Releases a shockwave into the solar system and blows off debris from the region of the inner planets. Releases a shockwave into the solar system and blows off debris from the region of the inner planets.

Solar System Photo Album (46) In 5 steps, illustrate the birth of the solar system. In 5 steps, illustrate the birth of the solar system. Write a 4-6 sentence paragraph describing what happened during each step. Write a 4-6 sentence paragraph describing what happened during each step.