AS101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 14: Angular Momentum, Molecular Cloud, Space Debris
Document Summary
Science is a systematic way to investigate the physical world. Common plane, directions of revolution and rotation. Two types of planets in the solar system. Observation the visible surface of the sun and molecular clouds have the same composition. Hypothesis the sun formed within a large, cool, rotating molecular cloud. Temperature 10k, radius 4k to 40k au. If the gas in the cloud is compressed and become clumpy the force of gravity on other gas particles increases more gas is attracted. This core of gas continually grows hotter and denser until a star is born. Observation- the sun and all the contents of the solar system have a common age. Hypothesis 0 the planets formed in a rotating disk of gas and dust around a newly formed star. Solar system bodies share common rotations and revolution in the same plane. Gravity from the forming star pulls the particles inward.
