Solar System Accretion Model

Stage 1 of 7

A cloud of gas and dust

hydrogen and helium gas rock and metal dust ices

How to write it in the exam

The Solar System formed from an interstellar cloud of gas and dust containing many elements.
Gravity pulled the cloud inwards. Most of the mass collected at the centre and became the Sun.
The material was rotating, so it flattened into an accretion disc around the Sun.
In the disc, gravity pulled particles together (accretion) to form the planets.
Near the hot Sun only rocky material stayed solid, so the four inner planets are small and rocky. Further out it was cold, so the four outer planets collected gas and are large and gaseous.