GEOS 1004 Quiz: Earth Structure Exam 1 Lectures
Document Summary
All matter in the universe, including our solar system, was originally ejected from the big bang ; fusion in stars then produced heavier elements. The very light elements hydrogen and helium formed the first stars and galaxies. Nuclear fusion within stars formed heavier elements capable of bonding into more complex molecules (very important!) Contraction of solar nebula began around 5 billion years ago years ago. Gravitational energy led to temperature increase and breakdown of dust particles in the solar nebula. Rocky planets formed from planetesimals, which were clumps of rocky and metallic debris. Collisions between debris, planetesimals caused a second heating event that. Distilled light elements towards the outer parts of the solar nebula. Rocky planets have high density and closer to the sun while gas planets have lower density and are farther from the sun. Density (material property) explains why rocky planets are close to the sun and gas planets are farther away.
