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Chapter 8: Problem 8

What is the nebular hypothesis? Why is this hypothesis accepted?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The Nebular Hypothesis is a theory about the formation of stars and planets from a 'nebula' or a large cloud of gas and dust. It is widely accepted because it successfully explains various observable phenomena in the solar system and is supported by observations in other star systems.

Step by step solution

01

Defining the Nebular Hypothesis

The Nebular Hypothesis is a theory that describes how stars and planets are formed. According to this theory, the solar system started as a large patch of gas and dust, or a 'nebula'. Eventually, due to gravity, the nebula started to collapse in on itself, and as it collapsed, it began spinning and flattening into a disk. The material in the center of the disk formed the Sun, while the gas and dust farther out formed the planets.
02

Explaining why the Nebular Hypothesis is accepted

The Nebular Hypothesis is widely accepted for a number of reasons: 1) It successfully explains why planets orbit the sun in the same direction and in the same plane. 2) It accounts for the presence of smaller bodies in the solar system such as asteroids and comets. 3) Observations of other star systems in various stages of formation validate this hypothesis.

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