Planetesimals are small solid objects that form in the protoplanetary disk around a young star, while protoplanets are larger bodies that develop from the accumulation and collision of planetesimals. Planetesimals are the building blocks that come together to form protoplanets, and eventually, planets. So, planetesimals are like the "seeds" that grow into protoplanets.
The interaction of earth-orbiting and Sun-orbiting planetesimals (very large chunks of rocks like asteroids) early in the history of the Solar System led to their breakup. The Moon condensed from this debris.
A protoplanetary disk is a concentration of gas and dust around a young star that eventually comes together to form planets. As the material in the disk begins to clump together due to gravity, it forms planetesimals which then grow into planets through accretion and collisions.
Protoplanets are larger bodies in the process of forming into planets, usually by accreting material from a protoplanetary disk. Planetesimals are small celestial bodies that are precursors to planets, often ranging in size from meters to hundreds of kilometers and are believed to be building blocks for planets. Essentially, protoplanets are further along in the planet formation process compared to planetesimals.
Accretion
NASA recently released a photo of the spreading debris from a collision in the asteroid belt.
Collisions among planetesimals of greatly varying size can lead to a process called accretion, where smaller planetesimals combine to form larger bodies. This can be a critical step in the formation of planets, as larger bodies have stronger gravitational pull and can continue to grow through further collisions. However, collisions with very large planetesimals could disrupt the growing planetesimal or lead to fragmentation, affecting the final size and composition of the resulting planets.
NASA recently released a photo of the spreading debris from a collision in the asteroid belt.
No. Stars are many times larger than planetesimals.
Planetesimals made from ice and sometimes rock are called comets.
Planetesimals are small solid objects that form in the protoplanetary disk around a young star, while protoplanets are larger bodies that develop from the accumulation and collision of planetesimals. Planetesimals are the building blocks that come together to form protoplanets, and eventually, planets. So, planetesimals are like the "seeds" that grow into protoplanets.
The interaction of earth-orbiting and Sun-orbiting planetesimals (very large chunks of rocks like asteroids) early in the history of the Solar System led to their breakup. The Moon condensed from this debris.
Asteroids, comets, and debris in space could be remnants of a planet that never fully formed. These objects can exist in the form of planetesimals or debris left over from the early stages of a planetary system's formation. The gravitational influence of larger planets or collisions between planetesimals can prevent these remnants from coalescing into a full-fledged planet.
In forensics, geometry is used to evaluate evidence such as the trajectory of bullets, lethal blows and collisions.
Planetesimals collided and merged to form the early Earth. This process released a significant amount of heat, contributing to the differentiation of Earth into layers. Additionally, planetesimals delivered water and other volatile materials to Earth, helping to shape its composition.
Dust and gas particles in a protoplanetary disk collided and stuck together to form planetesimals, which then collided and accreted to form planets. The process of gravitational attraction and collisions led to the formation of larger bodies within the disk, eventually forming planets.
The formation of Earth involved several major steps: 1. Accretion of dust and gas to form planetesimals, 2. Collisions and mergers of planetesimals to form protoplanets, 3. Differentiation of Earth's interior into layers, and 4. Cooling and solidification of Earth's surface to form the crust.