Construct explanations for how the solar system was formed.
- Astronomy
The student will demonstrate an understanding of the structure, properties, and history of the observable universe.
The solar system consists of the Sun and a collection of objects of varying sizes and conditions – including planets and their moons – that have predictable patterns of movement. These patterns can be explained by gravitational forces and conservation laws, and in turn explains many large-scale phenomena observed on Earth. Kepler’s laws describe common features of the motions of orbiting objects, including their elliptical paths around the Sun. The solar system appears to have formed from a disk of dust and gas, drawn together by gravity.