Solar System
Origins of the Solar System
Theories about the formation of the solar system
Vortex Theory
Proposed by Rene Descartes.
Suggests that the solar system was formed into bodies with nearly circular orbits due to whirlpool-like motion of pre-solar materials.
Descartes explained that:
The orbits of the planets are primary whirlpools.
Satellites (moons) are secondary whirlpools.
Collision Theory
Proposed by George-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon.
Indicates planets formed when the Sun collided with a giant comet.
Nebular Theory
Proposed by Immanuel Kant and Pierre Simon Laplace.
Explains that the solar system originated from a spinning gas cloud that collapsed.
As the gas cloud (nebula) flattened, it spun faster leading to:
Formation of the Sun.
Remaining particles forming the planets.
Planetesimal Theory
Proposed by Chrowder Chamberlin and Forest Ray Moulton.
Suggests that a star passed close to the Sun, gravitating some parts of it.
These parts are called planetesimals, which later became the planets.
Tidal Theory
Proposed by James Hopwood Jeans and Harold Jeffreys.
A huge tidal wave was created when the Sun collided with another star, producing planetesimals.
Protoplanet Theory
Proposed by Gerald Kuiper and Carl Von Weizsäcker.
Expands on the nebular theory, explaining the rotation of masses due to varying rotation.
The masses are referred to as protoplanets.:
Gas and dust accumulate in the middle forming a star.
Remaining gas and dust form the planets.
Solar Nebular Theory
Involves hydrogen gas, dust, and other gases from gas clouds or nebulas.
Stars have a long life span but eventually reach an endpoint where they expand, use more fuel, and ultimately explode.
The Solar System
The center of the solar system is the Sun, a star.
Contains eight known planets and five dwarf planets:
Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Dwarf Planets: Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Makemake, Haumea.