The most probable time sequence for the solar system's formation was that the
A) Sun formed initially,and the planets and major moons were captured much later as they drifted by the Sun.
B) planets formed first out of the cold gas and dust nebula,followed by the Sun,which formed when the gas had become much hotter.
C) Sun formed first,the planets were spun off from the Sun,and the moons in turn were spun off from the planets.
D) Sun contracted first as a ball of gas,and the planets and moons formed shortly afterward by accretion and condensation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is known as the nebular hypothesis, where the Sun formed from a collapsing cloud of gas and dust, and the planets and their moons formed from the leftover material. This theory is supported by evidence such as the similarities in composition of the Sun and the planets, the direction of planetary orbits, and the presence of asteroid belts and Kuiper Belt objects.

The Most Probable Time Sequence for the Solar System's Formation