I. In the early stages of solar system formation, a fragment of an interstellar cloud of dust and gas collapsed and began rotating under the influence of gravity

II. The eight planets were originally orbiting a nearby star, and the Sun's gravity pulled those planets into orbit around the Sun.
Ill. Gravity caused small particles in the rotating solar nebula to stick together and form larger particles
This process repeated itself, forming larger and larger particles that eventually became planets.
IV. The combined gravities of the planets pulled the sun away from a nearby star cluster and into the center of the solar system.
A. I, ll, and ill only
B. I and ill only
C. I. ill. and IV only
D. 1, Il, Ill, and IV

1 answer

The accurate sequence of events in the formation of the solar system would involve the collapse of an interstellar cloud, the formation of the solar nebula, the accretion of particles into larger bodies that became planets, and the gravitational influences of these bodies.

Let's analyze each statement:

I. In the early stages of solar system formation, a fragment of an interstellar cloud of dust and gas collapsed and began rotating under the influence of gravity. (True)

II. The eight planets were originally orbiting a nearby star, and the Sun's gravity pulled those planets into orbit around the Sun. (False; the planets formed from the solar nebula itself and did not originate from another star)

III. Gravity caused small particles in the rotating solar nebula to stick together and form larger particles. This process repeated itself, forming larger and larger particles that eventually became planets. (True)

IV. The combined gravities of the planets pulled the sun away from a nearby star cluster and into the center of the solar system. (False; this is not how the solar system gravitationally evolves)

Given this analysis, the correct combination of true statements is:

B. I and III only