Formation Theories of the Solar System and the Bombardment Phase of Planetary Surfaces

The solar system, a remarkable collection of celestial bodies, has intrigued scientists for centuries. Understanding its origins and the processes that shaped it is a fundamental question in astronomy. In this article, we explore the leading theories on the formation of the solar system, with a focus on the intense bombardment phase that shaped the surfaces of planets and moons.

Formation Theories of the Solar System

1. Nebular Hypothesis

The Nebular Hypothesis, proposed by Pierre-Simon Laplace and later refined by Immanuel Kant, suggests that the solar system formed from a massive, rotating cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. As the nebula collapsed under gravity, it flattened into a spinning disk. The Sun formed at the center, while particles in the disk clumped together to create planets, asteroids, and comets.

2. Planetesimal Hypothesis

The Planetesimal Hypothesis, introduced by Thomas C. Chamberlin and Forest R. Moulton, builds on the Nebular Hypothesis. It proposes that solid “planetesimals,” ranging from a few meters to several kilometers in size, acted as building blocks for planets. These planetesimals collided and merged…