Describe the nebular hypothesis, from gravitational collapse to differentiation. Describe how the solar system eventually ended up with two categories of planets: Terrestrial and Jovian.

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The Answer is The nebular hypothesis is a widely accepted theory for the formation of the solar system. It suggests that the solar system formed from the gravitational collapse of a giant molecular cloud, or nebula.

The process began with the gravitational collapse of a cloud of gas and dust, which caused the material to start spinning and flattening into a rotating disk. As the disk continued to collapse under its own gravity, the central region became denser and hotter, eventually leading to the formation of the Sun.

Meanwhile, in the outer regions of the disk, small particles collided and stuck together, forming planetesimals. These planetesimals continued to grow through collisions and accretion, eventually forming protoplanets.

As the protoplanets continued to grow, the inner regions of the solar system became too hot for volatile materials such as water and gases to condense, leading to the formation of the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) which are small, rocky, and close to the Sun.

In the outer regions of the solar system, where it was cooler, volatile materials were able to condense, leading to the formation of the Jovian planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) which are large, gaseous, and farther from the Sun.

This differentiation in the composition and size of the planets is a result of the temperature gradient within the protoplanetary disk, with the terrestrial planets forming closer to the Sun and the Jovian planets forming farther away. This process led to the formation of the two categories of planets within the solar system.

Describe the Nebular Hypothesis, from Gravitational Collapse to Differentiation