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Science Courses / Earth Science 101: Earth Science
Formation of the Earth | Overview & Theory

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Author
Aiden Ford
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Instructor
Amy Meyers
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Discover how planet Earth first came into existence. Understand the different
theories regarding the formation of the Earth's layers, water, atmosphere, and
land. Updated: 11/21/2023
Table of Contents

Formation of the Earth

Theory of the Earth
Lesson Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the theories of how the Earth was formed?

There are two theories of how the Earth was formed. One is the core accretion
model, which states that denser solid material settled close to the Sun and clumped
to form rocky planets and less dense gasses swept farther from the Sun and combined
to form the gas giants. The other is the disk instability model, which states the
solar nebula broke up into clumps of gas and solid material, combining into
planets.
How was the Earth's timeline formed?

Earth formed when dust combined with a larger solid material which snowballed over
millions of years. Earth was bombarded with meteorites that heated the surface of
the Earth, but as that stopped, the Earth cooled, which allowed for oceans, the
atmosphere, and landmasses to form.
What event formed the Earth?

4.6 billion years ago, the solar nebula was formed. This birthed the sun and caused
the remaining dust and gas to combine to form the planets, moons, and asteroids.
Formation of the Earth

Earth is our home, and the only planet known to humankind to support life. Our home
is located in our solar system, in the middle of one of the arms of the Milky Way
Galaxy. The formation of Earth, along with the formation of the rest of the solar
system, occurred 4.6 billion years ago. The solar system formed from a spinning,
disk-shaped cloud of gas and dust called the solar nebula. The solar nebula was
formed when a nearby supernova explosion sent a shockwave towards the dense cloud
of dust and gas that would become our solar nebula. This shockwave caused the dust
cloud to collapse, forming the solar nebula. Over time, due to the density of the
cloud and the force of gravity, the gas and dust began to collide and combine.

In the Milky Way Galaxy, our solar system lives in the middle of one of the arms.
Milky Way Galaxy, where is our solar system
The Sun was the first object to form in the center of the solar nebula when 99% of
the matter in the nebula, which was primarily hydrogen, condensed. Eventually, the
gravitational pull was so strong and the mass of the gathering gas was so great it
forced the collecting hydrogen atoms to combine to form helium. This released a
tremendous amount of energy and thus the Sun was born.

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Theory of the Earth

There are two theories of Earth discussed in the scientific community. The above
description of the formation of the solar system and thus the formation of Earth is
one called the core accretion model. This theory states that the planets were
formed from a solar nebula when solid materials collided into one another, slowly
snowballing over time to acquire enough mass to then hold onto atmospheric gasses,
which emanate largely from volcanoes. There are a few issues with this model,
however; one is the time it takes for planets to form this way. The gas giants of
our solar system needed to form much quicker than five hundred million years in
order to trap the light gases they are made of.

In the theory known as the disk instability model, it is theorized that planets
formed not as separate balls of rock and gas, but as clumps containing both dust
material and gases. The heavier materials collapse into themselves to form the
cores of planets, while the lighter gasses stay in their planetary form due to the
pull of gravity from the core.

There is more evidence needed to determine which theory is more likely. Scientists
need to study the formation of other solar systems to really understand how ours
was formed. It is likely however that a combination of both of these theories
describes how the planets were formed in our solar system.

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Earth Science 101: Earth Science

24 chapters | 169 lessons | 16 flashcard sets

Ch 1. Earth Science Basics

Earth Science Overview & Fields | What is Earth Science?

 5:53
Science Terms & Vocabulary | Overview & Study Styles
9:01
Scientific Method | Definition, Steps & Examples
8:43
Periodic Table Groups vs. Periods | Properties & History
7:06
Experimental Design in Science | Definition, Process & Steps
8:30
Metric System | Measurements, Conversion & Units
8:47
Creating, Reading & Interpreting Charts & Graphs
9:49

Ch 2. Geologic Time
Ch 3. Characteristics of Matter
Ch 4. Earth's Spheres and Internal...
Ch 5. Plate Tectonics
Ch 6. Minerals and Rocks
Ch 7. Igneous Rocks
Ch 8. Volcanic Landforms
Ch 9. Weathering and Erosion
Ch 10. Sedimentary Rocks: A Deeper Look
Ch 11. Metamorphic Rocks: A Deeper Look
Ch 12. Rock Deformation and Mountain...
Ch 13. Water Balance on Earth
Ch 14. Running Water
Ch 15. Ground Water
Ch 16. Glaciers
Ch 17. Oceans
Ch 18. Coastal Hazards
Ch 19. Earth's Atmosphere
Ch 20. Weather, Air Masses & Storms
Ch 21. Earthquakes
Ch 22. Earth History
Ch 23. Energy Resources
Ch 24. Studying for Earth Science 101
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