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How the Planets Formed
The inner planets include Mercury,
Venus, Earth,
and Mars. These planets are
different to the outer planets because they have a hard surface,
which a space ship could land on. Where as the outer planets: Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus,
Neptune, and Pluto
are mostly gas.
About 4.5 billion years ago
no planets existed. There was just a very dark and hot cloud of
gas and dust swirling around the newly formed sun. Gradually the
cloud cooled and the gas began to condense into billions of
droplets. Slowly these droplets were slowly pulled together by
their own gravity. They carried on clumping together until all the
planets were formed.
But the planets continued contraction of these
materials caused them to heat. This occurred more in the inner
planets than the outer planets, that is the reason for them being
more solid like. In the next stage as the materials became hotter,
they began melting under the influence of gravity. This caused the
differentiation of the layers in the planets, making the heavier
elements sink towards the middle and the lighter elements move
towards the outside. This then formed the planets that we know
today.
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Linux Space Programs
Astronomy Clubs
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