Lesson 1: The Universe and Solar System
Origin of the Solar System
Encounter Hypothesis
One of the earliest theories for the formation of the planets was called the encounter
hypothesis. In this scenario, a rogue star passes close to the Sun about 5 billion years
ago. Material, in the form of hot gas, is tidally stripped from the Sun and the rogue star.
This material fragments into smaller lumps which form the planets. This hypothesis has
the advantage of explaining why the planets all revolve in the same direction and also
provides an explanation for why the inner worlds are denser than the outer worlds
However, there are two major problems for a theory of this type. One is that hot gas
expands, not contracts. So lumps of hot gas would not form planets. The second is that
encounters between stars are extremely rare, so rare as to be improbable in the lifetime
of the Universe (15 billion years).
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Protoplanet Hypothesis
The current working model for the formation of the Solar System is called the protoplanet
hypothesis. It incorporates many of the components of the nebular hypothesis, but adds
some new aspects from modern knowledge of fluids and states of matter.
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Meanwhile in the inner Solar System:
Note that as the planets began to form they grew in mass by accreting planetesimals.
Since force of gravity is proportional to mass, the largest planetesimals are accreted
first. The early proto-planets are able to sweep the early Solar System clean of large
bodies.
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Notice also that the lighter compounds are vaporized in the inner Solar System. So where
did all the outgassing material come from? The answer is comets that fall from the outer
Solar System after the planets form.
Meanwhile in the outer Solar System:
The Jovian worlds, having an early edge on gathering mass in the colder outer solar
disk, were the most efficient at capturing planetesimals, which only served to increase
their already large masses. As the planetesimals shrink in average size, collisions with
proto-planets lead to fragmentation. So quickly the Solar System divided into large
proto-planets and smaller and smaller planetesimals which eventually became the
numerous meteors we see today.
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Nebular Hypothesis
A second theory is called the nebular hypothesis. In this theory, the whole Solar System
starts as a large cloud of gas that contracts under self-gravity. Conservation of angular
momentum requires that a rotating disk form with a large concentration at the center
(the proto-Sun). Within the disk, planets form.
While this theory incorporates more basic physics, there are several unsolved problems.
For example, a majority of the angular momentum in the Solar System is held by the
outer planets. For comparison, 99% of the Solar System's mass is in the Sun, but 99% of its
angular momentum is in the planets. Another flaw is the mechanism from which the disk
turns into individual planets.
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The Solar System - Gas Giants – Jupiter and
Saturn; predominantly made
It came into being about 4.5 billion years of helium and hydrogen
ago, when a cloud of interstellar gas a. Jupiter – largest planet in
and dust collapsed resulting in a solar the solar system
nebula – a swirling disc of material that b. Saturn – 2nd largest planet;
collided to form the solar system its signature rings are wide
Located in the Milky Way’s Orion Star enough to fit between the
cluster. Earth and the moon but
Only 15 % of stars in the galaxy host barely a kilometer thick
planetary systems, and one of those - Ice Giants – Uranus and
stars is the sun Neptune; contain rock, ice,
Revolving around the sun are eight and a liquid mixture if water,
planets which is divided into 2 methane, and ammonia
categories, based on their composition. a. Uranus – rotates on its side
b. Neptune – outermost layer
A. Terrestrial of the solar system; one of
- Lies on the inner solar system the coldest
- Made of rocky materials
- Surfaces are solid Orbiting the Terrestrial planets is the
- Don’t have ring systems asteroid belt, a flat disc of rocky objects,
- Have very few or no moons full of remnants from the solar system’s
- Relatively small formation. From microscopic dust
- includes Mercury, Venus, particles to the largest known object,
Earth and Mars the dwarf planet, Ceres.
a. Mercury – smallest and closest Another disc of space debris lies much
to the sun further out, and orbits the Jovian
- Shortest orbit in the solar planets, the icy Kuiper Belt. Apart from
system asteroids, the Kuiper Belt is also home to
b. Venus – hottest planet of up dwarf planets such as Pluto and is the
to 8670F, due to an birthplace of many comets.
atmosphere of carbon Beyond the Kuiper Belt is the Oort cloud,
dioxide and extensive lava a vast, spherical collection of icy debris.
flows. It is considered the edge of the solar
c. Earth – world of water, the system since that is where the
water systems on this planet gravitational and physical influences of
help create the only known the sun end.
environment in the universe
capable of sustaining life
d. Mars – supported life about
3.7 billion years ago when it
had a watery surface and
moist atmosphere
B. Jovian
- Lies on the outer solar system
- Have multiple moons
- No solid surface
- Support ring systems
- Immense in size
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