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Chapter 7: Problem 1

Rank the following in increasing order of size. a. protosolar nebula b. orbit of Earth around the Sun c. universe d. orbit of the Moon around Earth e. galaxy f. Solar System

Short Answer

Expert verified
Orbit of the Moon, Orbit of Earth, Protostellar nebula, Solar System, Galaxy, Universe.

Step by step solution

01

- Identify the Smallest Item

Compare the given items to determine which is the smallest. The orbit of the Moon around the Earth is the smallest, as it is limited to the region around the Earth.
02

- Identify the Next Smallest Item

The next smallest item is the orbit of Earth around the Sun. This region includes a larger area than the orbit of the Moon but is still confined to the Solar System.
03

- Identify the Protostellar Nebula

The protosolar nebula is the cloud of gas and dust that existed before the formation of the Solar System, making it larger than the orbits of Earth and the Moon but smaller than the entire Solar System.
04

- Identify the Size of the Solar System

The Solar System is larger than the protosolar nebula as it encompasses the Sun and all objects bound to it by gravity.
05

- Identify the Galaxy

Next, the galaxy (e.g., Milky Way) encompasses billions of stars and their solar systems, making it much larger than a single solar system.
06

- Identify the Universe

The largest entity is the universe, which contains all galaxies, including every galaxy known and unknown.
07

- Arrange in Increasing Order

Combine all the identified sizes to create the final ranked order: 1. Orbit of the Moon around Earth 2. Orbit of Earth around the Sun 3. Protostellar nebula 4. Solar System 5. Galaxy 6. Universe

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Protosolar Nebula
The protosolar nebula is a vast cloud of gas and dust. It existed before our Solar System was formed. Imagine a large diffuse cloud that eventually condensed to create the Sun and the planets. This nebula contained all the raw material needed to form everything in our Solar System.
Over time, gravity pulled these materials together, shaping the Sun at the center.
The leftover material orbited around and gradually clumped into planets, moons, and other celestial bodies.
Orbit of Earth
The orbit of Earth around the Sun describes the path Earth takes as it revolves around our star. This circular path keeps Earth at an average distance of about 93 million miles from the Sun. The gravitational pull of the Sun keeps Earth in this consistent orbit.
It takes Earth approximately one year to complete a full orbit, giving us the duration of a year.
The orbit coincides with different seasons due to the tilt of Earth's axis.
Solar System
The Solar System is our cosmic neighborhood. It consists of the Sun and all objects that orbit it, including planets like Earth, moons, asteroids, and comets. Our Solar System is held together by the Sun’s gravitational pull.
Eight major planets revolve around the Sun, each in its own specific orbit.
The vast space between planets contains other smaller objects and is largely empty, proving the immense size of the Solar System.
Galaxy
A galaxy is a massive collection of stars, stellar remnants, gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity. Our home galaxy is the Milky Way. It contains billions of stars, including our Sun.
Galaxies can vary in size and shape. Some are spiral, like the Milky Way, while others can be elliptical or irregular.
The sheer number of stars means galaxies contain countless solar systems, each with the potential for its own planets and moons.
Universe
The universe is the largest and most comprehensive structure known. It includes everything - all galaxies, stars, planets, and all forms of matter and energy. The universe is ever-expanding, meaning its boundaries are continuously growing.
Scientists often study the universe's origins through the Big Bang theory, which suggests it started from an incredibly hot and dense point about 13.8 billion years ago.
Understanding the universe helps us comprehend the vastness and complexity of all existence.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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