Question

1. what two forces caused the solar nebula to develop into the sun?
2. how were planetesimals different from protoplanets?
3. list three reasons why the earth was hot when it first formed.
4. what gas in the atmosphere was absorbed by the oceans as they formed?
5. explain the following statement: volcanic eruptions aid in the creation of an atmosphere.

Explanation:

1. Gravity pulled the material in the solar nebula together, and angular - momentum conservation caused it to spin as it collapsed to form the sun.
2. Planetesimals are smaller, more numerous, and less differentiated compared to protoplanets. Protoplanets are larger bodies that have undergone more accretion and internal differentiation processes.
3. The Earth was hot when it first formed due to gravitational compression (energy released as it was compressed), radioactive decay (heat from unstable isotopes), and impacts of planetesimals (kinetic energy converted to heat).
4. Carbon dioxide was absorbed by the oceans as they formed.
5. Volcanic eruptions release gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, etc. into the atmosphere. These gases contribute to building up the atmosphere over time.

Answer:

1. Gravity and angular - momentum conservation.
2. Smaller size, more numerous, less differentiated.
3. Gravitational compression, radioactive decay, impacts of planetesimals.
4. Carbon dioxide.
5. Volcanic eruptions release gases that build up the atmosphere.