Advertisement
Advertisement
planetesimal
[ plan-i-tes-uh-muhl ]
noun
- one of the small celestial bodies that, according to one theory planetesimal hypothesis, were fused together to form the planets of the solar system.
adjective
- of or relating to a planetesimal or planetesimals.
planetesimal
/ plăn′ĭ-tĕs′ə-məl /
- Any of innumerable small bodies of accreted gas and dust thought to have orbited the Sun during the formation of the planets.
- ◆ The theory that explains the formation of the solar system in terms of the aggregation of such bodies is known as the planetesimal hypothesis . According to this theory, first proposed in 1900, the planetesimals formed within a spiral disk of dust and gas surrounding a central nucleus. Their gravitational attraction eventually caused the planetesimals to coalesce into protoplanetary disks from which larger objects such as planets, asteroids, and satellites were formed, while the nucleus coalesced into the Sun.
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of planetesimal1
First recorded in 1900–05; planet + (infinit)esimal
Discover More
Example Sentences
The Planetesimal Theory suggests that these thickened knots are embryo planets and the central portion of the nebul an embryo sun.
From Project Gutenberg
Let us now inquire briefly into the bearing of this planetesimal hypothesis upon the early geological history of the earth.
From Project Gutenberg
On one point the new planetesimal theory differs from the other theories.
From Project Gutenberg
In deference to the opinion of a number of geologists we must glance once more at the alternative view of the planetesimal school.
From Project Gutenberg
But the planetesimal hypothesis has no room for this enormous percentage of carbon-dioxide in the primitive atmosphere.
From Project Gutenberg
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse