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What is the main difference between the 'condensation hypothesis' and the 'tidal hypothesis' for the origin of the solar system?

Asked by Crazyvietchix, Last updated: Apr 25, 2024

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4 Answers

L. Gibson

L. Gibson

L. Gibson
L. Gibson, Science Professor

Answered Jan 28, 2021

The condensation hypothesis and the tidal hypothesis are two out of many hypotheses that explained the origin of the solar system. You can't actually say which of the two is correct because there were serious objections to them, although we are able to know how the moon, the sun, asteroids, and other celestial bodies came about.

The condensation hypothesis shows how the solar system was formed from a nebula, a slowing rotating cloud of gas and dust that became cooled and contracted (condensed). On the other hand, the tidal hypothesis shows of how the solar system was formed by the tidal wave created when a passing star was drawing close to the sun.

This caused the gaseous matter in the sun to be extracted and condensed into different masses. These masses of different sizes were the planets formed. However, the two hypotheses also explain why all the planets orbit the sun in the same direction.

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G. Cole

G. Cole

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G. Cole
G. Cole, English Professor, PhD, Canterbury

Answered Jan 22, 2021

To explain the origin around the solar system, many people look to either the tidal hypothesis or the condensation hypothesis. It is impossible to test these hypothesis because we can not go back in time and provide a testing to prove which one is correct.

The main difference between both of these hypothesis is that the tidal hypothesis believes that two stars almost had a collision and the two stars pulled onto each other. Meanwhile, condensation hypothesis believes that the gas and dust clouds had condensation. As these two hypothesis can never be tested, it is up to the person on what to believe, because we will never know which is true.

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J. Alfie

J. Alfie

I Write for myself and many other clients. Blog post, Article writing and writing for ProProfs is my daily thing.

J. Alfie
J. Alfie, Content Writer, Masters in Literature, Dallas,Texas

Answered Jan 20, 2021

A lot of people are curious about how the solar system started. There are different types of theories that are available. Two of those that are often checked by people are the “Tidal theory” and the “Condensation theory.” According to the Tidal theory, the sun started to approach the different planets. This has caused tidal forces to occur. Since the sun was not stable at that time, some of the mass of the sun were torn off.

These parts started to become planets. For the Condensation theory, there is the belief that the sun and the moon were condensed from a nebula. Eventually, the nebula formed the rest of the solar system. The moon started to orbit the earth as a result.

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crazyvietchix

crazyvietchix

crazyvietchix
Crazyvietchix

Answered Sep 20, 2018

The tidal hypothesis proposes a near collision of two stars pulling on each other, but the condensation hypothesis proposes condensation of rotating clouds of dust and gas.

Most scientists believe the condensation hypothesis i.e that the solar system began when rotating clouds of dust and gas condensed into the sun and planets. A minority opinion is the tidal hypothesis i.e. that the sun almost collided with a large star. The large stars gravitational field would have then pulled gases out of the sun; the gases are thought to have begun to orbit the sun and condense into planets. Because both of these hypotheses deal with ancient, unrepeatable events. neither can be tested, eliminating answer (A). Note that both tidal and condensation; have additional meanings in physics, but those are not relevant here, eliminating answer (C). Both hypotheses are based on best guesses using modern physics, eliminating answer (D).
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