Why is most of the mass of the solary system contained in the Sun?
Briefly describe the protoplanet theory of planet formation.
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The reason why most of the mass in the solar system is concentrated in the Sun is due to the process of planetary formation. Here's a brief explanation:
The protoplanet theory, also known as the nebular hypothesis, describes how planets are formed from a rotating disk of gas and dust called the protoplanetary disk. This theory suggests the following steps:
1. Formation of the Sun: About 4.6 billion years ago, a giant molecular cloud of gas and dust collapsed under its gravity, causing it to spin faster. The spinning cloud formed a protostar at its center, which eventually turned into the Sun.
2. Accretion of material: As the protostar formed, the remaining gas and dust in the rotating disk started to clump together due to gravitational forces. These clumps, called planetesimals, gradually grew in size by attracting more material. As they continued to collide and merge, larger objects known as protoplanets formed.
3. Protoplanetary disk: While the protoplanets were growing, the remaining gas and dust in the disk began to dissipate. The strong stellar wind and radiation from the newly formed Sun pushed away the lighter elements, leaving behind mostly solid particles.
4. Clearing of the disk: Eventually, the protoplanets and larger bodies in the system cleared away most of the remaining gas and dust from their vicinity through their gravitational influence. This process created gaps and regions of sparse material in the disk, leading to the formation of distinct orbits for the planets.
5. Planet formation: Over millions of years, protoplanets continued to accrete material from the disk until they reached their final size. The protoplanets that had accumulated enough mass eventually became planets. Meanwhile, smaller objects that didn't grow large enough became asteroids, comets, or other celestial bodies.
In summary, the protoplanet theory suggests that the Sun contains most of the mass in the solar system because it formed first from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud. As the Sun formed, it cleared much of the remaining gas and dust, leaving behind primarily solid material for the formation of planets and other objects.