Solar Nebula Theory

About 4.6 billion years ago, a cloud of stellar dust or nebula exists within the Milky Way. What happened next?

• Shock waves hit the nebula causing it to collapse.

• The energy enriched nebula begins to contract further due to gravity.

• Supernova of a nearby star occurs.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Supernova of a nearby star occurs. Then what?

• Shock waves hit the nebula causing it to collapse.

• The energy enriched nebula begins to contract further due to gravity.

• The nebula begins to spin and flatten.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

Shock waves hit the nebula causing it to collapse. Then what?

• Supernova of a nearby star occurs.

• The energy enriched nebula begins to contract further due to gravity.

• The nebula begins to spin and flatten.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The energy enriched nebula begins to contract further due to gravity. Then what?

• The center of the nebula begins to get hot and dense.

• Shock waves hit the nebula causing it to collapse.

• The nebula begins to spin and flatten.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The nebula begins to spin and flatten. Then what?

• The center of the nebula begins to get hot and dense.

• Gravity causes light gases to move to the center while heavier materials and ice stay in outer areas.

• A protostar forms in the center of the nebula.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

Gravity causes light gases to move to the center while heavier materials and ice stay in outer areas. Then what?

• The center of the nebula begins to get hot and dense.

• A protostar forms in the center of the nebula.

• The nebula begins to spin and flatten.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

The center of the nebula begins to get hot and dense. Then what?

• The nebula begins to spin and flatten.

• The SUN is born, fusion begins in the core.

• A protostar forms in the center of the nebula.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

A protostar forms in the center of the nebula. Then what?

• Shock waves hit the nebula causing it to collapse.

• The center of the nebula begins to get hot and dense.

• The SUN is born, fusion begins in the core.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

NGSS.HS-ESS1-3

The SUN is born, fusion begins in the core. Then what?

• Planetesimals (small rock or icy bodies) begin to form. Rocky pieces in the outer rings and icy pieces in the inner rings.

• A protostar forms in the center of the nebula.

• About 4.5 billion years ago pieces of rock and ice accumulate more material until they grow into planets and moons.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-1

Planetesimals (small rock or icy bodies) begin to form. Rocky pieces in the outer rings and icy pieces in the inner rings. Then what?

• About 4.6 billion years ago, a cloud of stellar dust or nebula exists within the Milky Way.

• About 4.5 billion years ago pieces of rock and ice accumulate more material until they grow into planets and moons.

• The SUN is born, fusion begins in the core.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6