Forming Earth and Our Solar System By David and Jake Thank You!

At the Beginning Our solar system was formed an estimated billion years ago with gravity fueling the collapse of a small part of a an enormous molecular cloud. The majority of the mass of the cloud collected in the center, to form the Sun, the remainder of the mass formed into a protoplanetary disk. This disk formed the planets, moons, asteroids, and the other small bodies in our solar system.

The Sun The sun is the star at the center of our solar system. It is equal to 109 times the diameter of the earth and accounts for 99.8% of the mass in the solar system. The sun is the star at the center of our solar system. It is equal to 109 times the diameter of the earth and accounts for 99.8% of the mass in the solar system. The sun formed at the center of the galaxy from the nebular cloud. The sun is mostly Made up of Hydrogen (74.9%) and Helium (23.8%). The energy it generates is caused by the nuclear fusion of Hydrogen Nuclei into helium. The average distance from the earth to the sun is million miles or the equivalent to 1 AU. The sun formed at the center of the galaxy from the nebular cloud mostly composed of Hydrogen.

How the Planets Formed The process in which the planets of a solar system are formed is called accretion. The idea is that there are dust particles orbiting the central protostar that collide together and begin to gain mass. Over millions of years they start to take shape. At this time, it is believed that a planet grows a centimeter in size every year. This process continues for hundreds of millions of years to form a solar system like the one we have today. The process in which the planets of a solar system are formed is called accretion. The idea is that there are dust particles orbiting the central protostar that collide together and begin to gain mass. Over millions of years they start to take shape. At this time, it is believed that a planet grows a centimeter in size every year. This process continues for hundreds of millions of years to form a solar system like the one we have today.

Terestrial and Jovian Planets The way that our solar system is formed is the reason we have terrestrial and Jovian planets. The way that our solar system is formed is the reason we have terrestrial and Jovian planets. Terrestrial planets are smaller because they are closer to the sun so any element with a low melting point like water cannot condense to help form the planet. The terrestrial planets are therefore composed mostly of metals like and silicates. These elements are less abundant and that is why the terrestrials are so much smaller than the other planets. Terrestrial planets are smaller because they are closer to the sun so any element with a low melting point like water cannot condense to help form the planet. The terrestrial planets are therefore composed mostly of metals like and silicates. These elements are less abundant and that is why the terrestrials are so much smaller than the other planets. For the Jovian's, it is different. They are farther away, so they can stay cooler and form ice. For the Jovian's, it is different. They are farther away, so they can stay cooler and form ice.

These Planets were moving Planetary migration was a theory proposed in the Nebular Hypothesis, because Uranus and Neptune could not have formed where they are now. They most likely formed in a part of the nebular cloud that was dense enough to support planet building (around the area of Jupiter and Saturn) and then moved to their current position. Planetary migration was a theory proposed in the Nebular Hypothesis, because Uranus and Neptune could not have formed where they are now. They most likely formed in a part of the nebular cloud that was dense enough to support planet building (around the area of Jupiter and Saturn) and then moved to their current position.

Moons The moons of our solar system exist in their current locations because one of three reasons: they were either captured by the gravity of their planets, created from a disk of debris around the planet (only seen in the gas giants), and debris from impacts. The moons of our solar system exist in their current locations because one of three reasons: they were either captured by the gravity of their planets, created from a disk of debris around the planet (only seen in the gas giants), and debris from impacts.

Asteroid Belt At the ending reaches of the terrestrial planets lies the asteroid belt. Once containing bodies as big as mars, the gravity of early migrating Jupiter tugged on them until they crashed into one another. Some asteroids of course were pulled into the inner solar system helping to form the terrestrial planets. At the ending reaches of the terrestrial planets lies the asteroid belt. Once containing bodies as big as mars, the gravity of early migrating Jupiter tugged on them until they crashed into one another. Some asteroids of course were pulled into the inner solar system helping to form the terrestrial planets.