In light of modern solar system theory, why do the orbits of the planets all lie in the sameplane?
A)The Sun's gravity forced them into these orbits.
B)The angular momentum of the solar system was kept to a minimum this way.
C)The early solar nebula flattened into a disk.
D)Comets would have wiped out any not in this protected plane.
E)This happened purely by chance.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to modern solar system theory, the orbits of the planets all lie in the same plane because the solar nebula that gave birth to our solar system was a rotating disk, and the planets formed from this disk as well. The conservation of angular momentum of this rotating disk caused it to flatten into a disk shape, and from this disk, the planets formed in orbits around the Sun within the same plane. According to modern solar system theory, the orbits of the planets all lie in the same plane because the early solar nebula flattened into a disk, with the planets forming from material that was orbiting in that disk. This is known as the accretion disk model of planetary formation.

In Light of Modern Solar System Theory, Why Do the Orbits