What is the nebular hypothesis?

Question

Ivy Allen · Accepted Answer

The nebular hypothesis was proposed by the philosopher Emanuel Kant to explain how the present solar system could have come about.

Emanuel Kant imagined the solar system's planets and sun to form from a whirling cloud of dust, or nebula. The hypothesis that the dust cloud existed and formed the solar system is merely an attempt to explain the solar system's origin through natural processes; there is no evidence to support the theory. When modern astronomy allowed for measurements of the rotational momentum, it was discovered that the planets had 99% of the rotational momentum, refuting the nebula hypothesis. The planets have only 1% of the solar system's mass. If the spinning dust cloud theory was correct, the planets should have 1% of the solar system's rotational momentum. Strong theories produce well-founded hypotheses and predictions, while weak theories produce hypotheses that are disproven and predictions that don't pan out.

Levi Acosta · Answer

undefined The nebular hypothesis is a theory that proposes that the solar system formed from the gravitational collapse of a giant molecular cloud, or nebula. This collapsing cloud eventually formed a rotating disk of gas and dust, known as the solar nebula, which then condensed to form the Sun and the planets around it.