"Our Dynamic Solar System" the origin of the solar system, laws governing the solar system, the sun, the planets and the other bodies that are included.

Essay by dopebizchicUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, November 2002

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Our solar system is a very complex place. In this paper I will identify the origin of the solar system, laws governing the solar system, the sun, the planets and the other bodies that are included. Our solar system is a collection consisting of the Sun and the bodies orbiting around it. Included in our dynamic system are nine major planets, numerous asteroids, at least 68 satellites, and the cosmic interplanetary medium. The inner solar system consists of the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The outer solar system contains Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn and Jupiter. "The largest part of the mass of our solar system (other than that constituting its central star) and almost all of its angular momentum is stored in four planets- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune." (Kapal, p.6) The planets, most of the satellites of the planets and the asteroids revolve around the Sun in the same direction, in nearly circular orbits.

When looking down from above the Sun's north pole, the planets orbit in a counter-clockwise direction. The planets orbit the Sun in or near the same plane, called the ecliptic. The axis of rotation for most of the planets is nearly perpendicular to the ecliptic. The exceptions are Uranus and Pluto, which are tipped on their sides.

Five billion years ago a cloud of hot swirling dust and hydrogen gas gave birth to our Sun and planets. As the cloud spun and collapsed inwards it flattened into a central mass with a surrounding disk. Dust and gases in the disk created small condensations each spinning about its own center. Gravitation condensed and heated the central mass. Density increased considerably and nuclear fusion began. Energy was released and our Sun flared into existence. The solar wind of the newly ignited Sun blew away leftover dust...