1) Formation of a protoplanetary disk: A protoplanetary disk forms from the gas and dust left over after the birth of a star. This disk consists of a rotating, flattened structure around the star, where particles within the disk begin to clump together.
2) Accretion of planetesimals: Within the protoplanetary disk, small particles called planetesimals start to collide and stick together due to gravity. These collisions gradually build up larger bodies, called protoplanets, as they continue to accrete more material from the surrounding disk.
3) Protoplanet formation: Protoplanets continue to grow through more collisions and accretion of material, eventually becoming massive enough to dominate their immediate surroundings. As protoplanets grow, their gravitational pull influences nearby planetesimals, while also trapping and accumulating gas from the surrounding disk, further increasing their mass.
4) Clearing out of the disk and planet migration: Over time, protoplanets begin to clear out the remaining gas and dust in their vicinity, either through their own gravitational pull or through interactions with the surrounding disk. The process of clearing out the disk can also cause some protoplanets to migrate towards the star or be scattered to other regions, leading to the final configuration of the planetary system.
Summarize four steps in the formation of a planetary system
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