Nebular Theory

What is the cloud of dust and gas from which our solar system formed called?

Solar Nebula

What is the name for the theory of how the solar system developed?

Solar Nebular Condensation Theory

Identify two factors that caused the center of the solar nebula to become hotter and denser

-energy from collision

-pressure from gravity

How much of the matter form the solar nebula make up the sun

99%

How long ago did our solar system begin to form?

5 billion years ago

How do planetesimals form?

clumps in the solar nebula collided and grew larger

How do protoplanets form?

clumps in the solar nebula collided and grew larger

how do protoplanets form?

planetesimals collided and stick together

Identify the 4 criteria that required to be classified a planet

-orbit around the sun

-round

-can’t be a satellite (moon)

-remove debri around their orbit

Describe the process of differentiation

denser materials sank to the canter of the earth and less dense materials were forced to the outer layers

core

is dense and made of iron and nickel

mantle

Around the corner is a very thick layer of iron and magnesium (rich rock)

crust

the outermost layer of the earth is a thin crust of less dense silica hard rock

outgassing

is the release of large a mounts of gases by volcanic eruptions

how did oxygen become a component of earth’s atmosphere?

Cyanobacteria and earthy green plants put oxygen in the air by doing photosynthesis

describe how earth’s early oceans became salty

rain water dissolved chemicals/salt into the oceans