Nebular theory Flashcards
Nebular Theory
A model for the origin of the solar system that supposes a rotating nebula of dust and gases that contracted to form the Sun and planets.
Flattens and spins faster
conservation of angular momentum
heats up
conservation of energy
Most of the mass forms where?
the Sun in the center. Particles collide, grow larger through these collisions, eventually becoming planets
Protoplanetary disks form where?
where planets are sweeping out the disk and growing larger
What does this explain about planet orbits
why they are almost circular,
all orbit in the same plane,
orbit in the same direction,
planet rotation is (usually) in the same direction,
& (large) moons (usually) follow the same pattern
where do the rocky planets form?
closer to the sun, where its hotter
Where do the gas planets form?
far from the Sun where it’s colder, and ices (like water, ammonia, and methane) can condense onto rocky cores
asteroids/comets=
left over materials that didn’t grow into a planet
dating the universe
crater counts and radioactive dating
radioactive dating
the process of measuring the absolute age of geologic material by measuring the concentrations of radioactive isotopes and their decay products
crater counts
more craters = older surface
