Cosmological Theories of Planetary Formation

Jean and Jeffery’s Tidal Theory

Overview of cosmological theories of planetary formation, including Jean and Jeffery’s Tidal Theory, Russel’s Binary Star Hypothesis, Hoyle’s Supernova Hypothesis, and Schmidt’s Interstellar Hypothesis. Learn how each theory explains the formation and structure of planetary systems and their unique contributions to our understanding of the solar system's origins.

• This theory is somewhat similar to Chamberlin’s theory, where an intruding star ejects matter from the Proto-Sun.
• In Chamberlin’s theory, the Proto-Sun was initially considered a cold body, whereas the Tidal Theory assumes the Proto-Sun to be hot and incandescent.
• According to the Tidal Theory:
  • The matter ejected is not random dust, gases, or planetesimals.
  • The ejected matter forms a cigar-shaped filament from which planets and other celestial bodies accrete.
• This theory is considered the best interpretation for explaining the sizes of planets as they arrange themselves away from the sun.

Russel’s Binary Star Hypothesis

• There is a Binary Star System where two stars are coupled together, rotating around a fixed center of mass.
• When an Intruding Star comes close to the binary stars, it ejects matter from one of the stars.
• The ejected matter circulates into planets and revolves around the Proto-Sun.
• This theory is convenient for explaining why the composition of planets differs from that of the sun.

Hoyle’s Supernova Hypothesis

• According to Hoyle, there were initially two stars in the universe:
  • The Primitive Sun
  • The Companion Star
• The Companion Star was a giant that later became a supernova due to nuclear reactions.
• The violent explosion of the Companion Star resulted in the spread of an enormous mass of dust, which started revolving around the Primitive Sun in the form of a circular disc.
• The matter of this disc became the building material for the formation of future planets.
• Thus, the planets of our solar system were formed due to the condensation of matter from the disc.

Schmidt’s Interstellar Hypothesis

• According to Schmidt, the initial universe was composed of stars and randomly distributed matter filling the space in between.
• This dark matter started to revolve around the primitive rotating sun and gradually began accreting and condensing, eventually forming the solar system.
• Although Schmidt did not explain the origin of these dark matters, they were called ‘Inter-Stellar Dusts’ by him.
• This theory can be considered as explaining the processes that preceded the Nebular Accretionary process of Laplace & Kant.