• Question: Why is Jupiter so big? Why do we have a solar system?

    Asked by 574tund46 to Gemma, Ross, Aimee on 11 Nov 2015. This question was also asked by ebony06.
    • Photo: Gemma Cripps

      Gemma Cripps answered on 11 Nov 2015:

      Hi 574tund47

      Jupiter formed at the right place in our solar system where it could capture the most dust and gas. If it was any closer to the sun, then the gases would move too fast for the growing Jupiter to capture. If it was further away from the sun there is a lot less material for it to grow…. In other words it was in the right space at the right time 🙂

      How and why solar systems are formed is a bit of a debate in science. Our solar system was formed around 4.6 billion years ago (a long time ago!). One theory as to how it was formed is called the nebular hypothesis- this theory suggests that a cloud of gas in the atmosphere collapsed. This collapse caused a kind of turbulence that heated up and eventually turn into a star. This was the beginning of our solar system!

Comments