Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)
14th Edition
ISBN: 9781337399920
Author: Michael A. Seeds, Dana Backman
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 18, Problem 1RQ

Why was the nebular hypothesis never fully accepted by astronomers of the day?

Expert Solution & Answer
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To determine

The reason behind the astronomers not fully accepting the nebular hypothesis.

Answer to Problem 1RQ

The reason behind the astronomers not fully accepting the nebular hypothesis is the missing explanation for the angular momentum of the planets.

Explanation of Solution

The most widely believed theory of the formation and evolution of the solar system is the nebular hypothesis but it has a few setbacks.

One of the major problems that the theory faced involved the distribution of the angular momentum between the planets and the Sun. The theory could not explain the fact that 99% of the angular momentum is possessed by the planets.

James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish scientist, also criticized the theory. He said that if this theory is correct then, “the Moon must necessarily have carried off water and air from the watery and aerial parts of the Earth and must have an atmosphere". However, this is not true.

The astronomers did not fully accept the theory because of its inadequacies and it urged them to discover a substitution for the theory.

Therefore, the reason behind the astronomers not fully accepting the nebular hypothesis is the missing explanation for the angular momentum of the planets.

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Chapter 18 Solutions

Foundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)

Ch. 18 - What planet in the Solar System is larger than the...Ch. 18 - Why is almost every solid surface in the Solar...Ch. 18 - What is the difference between condensation and...Ch. 18 - Why dont Terrestrial planets have ring systems...Ch. 18 - How does the solar nebula theory help you...Ch. 18 - Prob. 16RQCh. 18 - If rocks obtained from the Moon indicate an age of...Ch. 18 - Which is older, the Moon or the Sun? How do you...Ch. 18 - How does the solar nebula theory explain the...Ch. 18 - Did hydrogen gas condense from the nebula as the...Ch. 18 - What happens if a planet has differentiated? Would...Ch. 18 - Order the following steps in the formation of a...Ch. 18 - Which step(s) listed in the previous question can...Ch. 18 - Describe two processes that could melt the...Ch. 18 - What is the evidence that Jupiter and Saturn are...Ch. 18 - Describe two processes that cleared the solar...Ch. 18 - What is the difference between a planetesimal and...Ch. 18 - Does Uranus have enough mass to have formed by...Ch. 18 - What properties of the gas and dust disks observed...Ch. 18 - Why would the astronomically short lifetime of gas...Ch. 18 - Prob. 31RQCh. 18 - Describe three methods to find extrasolar planets.Ch. 18 - Why is the existence of hot Jupiters puzzling?...Ch. 18 - The evidence is overwhelming that the Grand Canyon...Ch. 18 - Prob. 35RQCh. 18 - If you observed the Solar System from the vantage...Ch. 18 - Venus can be as bright as apparent magnitude 4.7...Ch. 18 - What is the smallest-diameter crater you can...Ch. 18 - Prob. 4PCh. 18 - Prob. 5PCh. 18 - You analyze a sample of a meteorite that landed on...Ch. 18 - You analyze a sample of a meteorite that landed on...Ch. 18 - Prob. 8PCh. 18 - Examine Table 18-2. What might a planets...Ch. 18 - Examine Table 18-2. What might a planets...Ch. 18 - Suppose that Earth grew to its present size in 10...Ch. 18 - Prob. 12PCh. 18 - Prob. 13PCh. 18 - Prob. 1SOPCh. 18 - Prob. 2SOPCh. 18 - What do you see in this image that indicates this...Ch. 18 - Why do astronomers conclude that the surface of...Ch. 18 - Prob. 3LTLCh. 18 - Prob. 4LTL
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