FORMATION OF SOLAR SYSTEM

Collapsing Clouds of Gas and Dust

In the Nebular Hypothesis, a cloud of gas and dust collapsed by gravity begins to spin faster because of angular momentum conservation

The Spinning Nebula Flattens

The collapsing, spinning nebula begins to flatten into a rotating pancake called accretion disk

Condensation of Protosun and Protoplanets

As the nebula collapses further, local regions begin to contract gravitationally on their own because of instabilities in the collapsing, rotating cloud. This process is called fragmentation of accretion disk