Unit 7: Beyond

Earth
Module 22: Our
solar system
Lesson 1: Formation of the
Solar System
Essential Questions

1. How did the solar system form?

2. What are some of the early concepts of the structure of the solar system?
3. What caused the orderly patterns of motion in our solar system?
4. Why are there two major types of planets?

Learning objectives Keywords

• Describe the theory of solar system formation/Nebular Theory Earth, Moon, Sun, Solar system, interstellar
• Define an interstellar cloud clouds, planetesimal, Nebular theory
• Describe how interstellar clouds formed

Standards

HS-ESS1-4: Use Kepler’s laws to predict

the motion of orbiting objects in the
solar system. Describe how orbits may
change due to the gravitational effects
from, or collisions with, other objects in
the solar system.
• Theories of the origin of the solar system rely on direct
observations and data from probes.
• Scientific theories must explain observed facts, such as the
shape of the solar system, differences among the planets, and
the nature of the oldest planetary surfaces—asteroids,
meteorites, and comets.

Look at details to explain the big phenomenon

Asking Questions and Defining Problems Type your questions
here:

Make careful observations of the Solar System Use your observations

diagram (the Sun is on the left side of the picture, to generate a list of at
least 3 questions about
with the planets in the correct order from the our Solar System.
Sun). Look for patterns and note what you see.
 Developing and Using Models

Nebular Theory
Watch the video!
1. What did you learn from this model?
2. How is this model accurate?
3. What may be inaccurate about the model?
4. After observing the model, what do you still not know about our Solar System?

Download this app

Type your answer here: And check it out!!

Type Solar System and

check it out in VR
Birth of a Star

1. Gas and dust

collect into a large
cloud. This cloud is
called a
NEBULA
____________.
Or an interstellar clouds An interstellar cloud is generally an accumulation of gas,
and dust in our and other galaxies. 
Birth of a Star

2. The nebula begins

SHRINK and
to __________
DENSER.
become _________.
Birth of a Star

3. The nebula begins

SPIN
to ___________.

Like an ice skater

Birth of a Star

GRAVITY pulls
4. ___________
the gas and dust
toward the
CENTER of the
__________
disk.
Birth of a Star

5. The gas at the

DENSE
center is so_______
HOT that
and _______
FUSION
nuclear ___________
begins!
Birth of a Star
STAR is born in the center of the disk!
6. A __________
Planet Formation Terrestrial Planets

ROCKY inner planets

We have four small, ________
Planet Formation Jovian Planets

GASSY outer planets

We have four large, ________
Planet Formation
DWARF PLANETS
We have thousands of ___________________and
small objects
Planet Formation
• The heat and wind from the Sun vaporized all of the
light gases nearby. This left only rock and metal behind.
• The four inner planets were formed from the left over
rocky material.
Extreme heat from the Sun “sucked”
the light gases from the
protoplanetary disk inward, and
Solar winds blew the rest of the light
gases away from the Sun.
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

Type your answer here:

Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Watch the video

Type your answer here:

Let’s Summarize
• Stars are formed out of clouds of gas and dust
• As the clouds become more dense, particles are
pulled to the center
• With enough density and heat, fusion begins and
a star is born!
• Planets are formed out of the leftover gas and
dust around the star