Elements in the universe and our solar system
The Formation of the Universe
- According to the most recent research, the universe began between 12 and 13.5 billion years ago.
- Big Bang Theory: Proposes that the universe began as a single point and has been expanding ever since.
- The Big Bang released the cosmic matter from which the galaxies and stars were eventually formed.
- The universe began expanding in all directions, and according to most astronomers, has been expanding ever since!
Galaxies
- As the universe expanded, it cooled very, very slowly, and cosmic matter gradually condensed to form the first galaxies.
- Atoms of hydrogen, the simplest and lightest of all of the elements, formed in the swirling clouds of condensed matter.
Elements in the Universe
- The energy released during these fusion reactions initiated further fusion reactions, in which all 90 of the remaining naturally occurring elements found on Earth were formed
- In the universe as a whole
- 90% of all atoms are hydrogen
- 9% are helium
- 1% are atoms of all of the other elements
- Scientists believe that subsequent explosions of the early stars scattered the elements and that our sun was born from the debris of one of these explosions
The Planets in Our Solar System
Elements in the universe compared to earth and pluto
Elements in Earth
Elements in uranus
- The Solar Nebular Hypothesis describes the formation of our Solar System (sun and planets) from a nebula around 4.6 billion years ago.
- Step 1: A nebula was present in our location
- Step 2: Gravity began to compress the nebula, moving the dust and gas into a rotating disk.
- Current Evidence: All of the planets revolve around the sun in the same plane and direction.
- Step 3: The center was under so much pressure that hydrogen combined with other hydrogen atoms creating helium. This was the birth of our star, the sun.
- ep 4: Planetismals (early planets) began to grow in size from the clumps of matter and slam into each other as they revolved around the early forming sun.
- Step 5: Gas giants (large gaseous planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) form far away from the sun and the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) also start to take shape.
- The extra debris makes up the asteroid belt
- ep 4: Planetismals (early planets) began to grow in size from the clumps of matter and slam into each other as they revolved around the early forming sun.
Animation of solar system
Our Star, The Sun
Altogether, 92.1 percent of the number of atoms in the Sun are hydrogen atoms, 7.8 percent by number are helium atoms, and all other heavier elements make up only 0.1 percent.