A simulation of the Kant-Laplace nebular hypothesis showing how planets form from a disk of rocks orbiting a sun. Watch 10,000 rocks collide and merge into larger bodies over time.
A simulation of the Kant-Laplace nebular hypothesis showing how planets form from a disk of rocks orbiting a sun. Watch 10,000 rocks collide and merge into larger bodies over time.
The Kant-Laplace nebular hypothesis proposes that the solar system formed from a rotating cloud of gas and dust. As the cloud collapsed under gravity, it flattened into a disk with the Sun forming at the center. [more]
Within this disk, small particles collided and stuck together, gradually building up into larger bodies called planetesimals. These continued to collide and merge, eventually forming the planets we see today.
This simulation shows 10,000 rocks orbiting a central sun. They start in roughly circular orbits but will collide and merge over time, forming larger and larger bodies. Watch as structure emerges from chaos!
The colors indicate initial distance from the sun - orange/red rocks started closer (hotter region), blue rocks started further out (cooler region).
Controls: Drag to pan • Scroll to zoom • Click rock to inspect • Space to pause • R to reset view • Hold Shift for overview