Nebular Theory

According to the Nebular Theory, how were the sun and planets formed?

• From a big bang causing a massive explosion

• From a black hole pulling in surrounding material

• From a rotating disk of dust and gases

• From the collision of two or more stars

What does the Nebular Theory primarily explain?

• The formation of galaxies

• The formation of solar systems

• The lifecycle of stars

• The expansion of the universe

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-4

According to the Nebular Theory, which stage directly precedes the formation of a protoplanetary disk?

• Formation of a nebula

• Collapse of a molecular cloud

• Formation of planetesimals

• Ignition of the sun

What was the initial state of the solar nebula that led to the formation of the Sun?

• A hot, dense spherical cloud of gas and dust

• A cold, slightly rotating spherical cloud of gas and dust

• A rapidly rotating flat disk of gas only

• A static, dense cloud of dust only

How many years ago did the nebula begin to collapse and spin faster due to gravity, leading to the formation of the Sun?

• 5 million years ago

• 5 billion years ago

• 10 billion years ago

• 50 million years ago

What happened to the gravitational potential energy of the nebula as it collapsed inward?

• It was converted to magnetic energy

• It was lost to space

• It was converted to heat, forming the Sun

• It remained constant

How do scientists know how the Solar System was formed, even though they were not around to witness the event?

• By studying historical records

• Through direct observation

• By analyzing geological samples from Earth

• Using evidence from space probes and telescopes

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

What is the term used to describe the flattened disk where planets begin to form?

• Asteroidal belt

• Kuiper belt

• Protoplanetary disk

• Galactic disk

What forms from the material within the protoplanetary disk?

• Comets

• Planetesimals

• Stars

• Black holes

What happens to the remaining material in the protoplanetary disk over time?

• It forms into moons, asteroids and comets

• It is used up in star formation.

• It is either collected into the nine planets and moons or swept off into space by the solar wind.

• It remains static and forms a second disk.