Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) Secondary Integrated Science Practice test

Which statement describes the condensation hypothesis of solar system formation?

1. A near collision with another star

2. Rotating clouds of dust and gas

3. Gravitational pull of the Sun

4. Extraction of gases through tidal forces

The correct answer is: Rotating clouds of dust and gas

The condensation hypothesis of solar system formation posits that the solar system developed from a rotating cloud of dust and gas, known as the solar nebula. Over time, this nebula cooled and collapsed under its own gravity, leading to the formation of the Sun at its center and the planets from the remaining material. This model explains the observed structure of the solar system, including the distribution of planets and their orbits. The rotation of the cloud contributes to the flattening of material into a disk-like shape, facilitating the accretion of particles into larger bodies, ultimately forming planets and other celestial objects. The other options, such as a near collision with another star or the extraction of gases through tidal forces, do not accurately capture the fundamental mechanisms described by the condensation hypothesis. Additionally, while the gravitational pull of the Sun is important during and after the formation process, it does not illustrate how the initial structure and components of the solar system came together from a cloud of gas and dust.