Where was the matter in the solar system before the solar system existed?

Answer 1

The matter that makes up the solar system, including the Sun, planets, and other celestial bodies, was originally present in the form of a giant molecular cloud or interstellar cloud within our Milky Way galaxy. These clouds are composed primarily of gas and dust, mainly hydrogen and helium, along with trace amounts of heavier elements.

These molecular clouds are immense in size and are held together by their own gravity. Over time, certain regions within these clouds can become denser and more concentrated due to various factors, such as shockwaves from nearby supernovae or the gravitational influence of other nearby massive objects.

When a region of a molecular cloud becomes sufficiently dense and gravitationally unstable, it can collapse under its own gravity. As this collapse occurs, the material within the cloud starts to clump together, forming knots of gas and dust. Within these knots, further gravitational collapse can lead to the formation of protostars and, eventually, entire star systems like our solar system.

In the case of the solar system, the matter within the collapsing cloud collected at the center to form the protostar that would become the Sun. The surrounding material flattened into a rotating disk, out of which planets, moons, asteroids, and comets gradually formed through a process known as accretion. The planets and other objects in the solar system, including Earth, are essentially made up of the same material that was once part of the molecular cloud.

In summary, the matter in the solar system was originally part of a giant molecular cloud within our galaxy before it collapsed under its own gravity to form the various celestial bodies we observe today.

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Answer 2

The matter was spread out over vast distances of space before larger particles started t clump together and form planetesimals and then larger bodies.