Nebular Theory

Front

What is Nebular Theory?

Back

A model that explains the formation of solar systems from a rotating cloud of gas and dust (nebula) that contracts under gravity.

Front

What happens to a nebula as it contracts due to gravity?

Back

The nebula begins to spin and flatten.

Front

What is the process called when gravity pulls together clumps of rocky material to form larger clumps?

Back

Accretion.

Front

What are nebulae primarily composed of?

Back

Hydrogen.

Front

What is the primary composition of the inner planets?

Back

Rock.

Front

What is the term for the growth of planetesimals into protoplanets and then planets through collisions?

Back

Accretion.

Front

What role does heat play in the formation of planets?

Back

Heat generated from collisions melts early planetary bodies, allowing differentiation.

Front

What is the significance of the frost line in the context of solar system formation?

Back

It marks the distance in the solar nebula where it is cold enough for ice to condense, influencing planet formation.

Front

What is gravitational collapse?

Back

The process by which a nebula contracts under its own gravity, leading to the formation of stars and planets.

Front

What is a protoplanet?

Back

A large body of matter in orbit around a star that is in the process of forming into a planet.