Explain the formation and characteristics of th... - SS1 Physics Space Physics and Astronomy Question

The planets in our solar system formed from a spinning disk of gas and dust called the solar nebula. As the nebula collapsed under its own gravity, it formed a central protostar (the Sun) and flattened into a disk. Within this disk, small particles collided and stuck together, forming planetesimals. These planetesimals further collided and accumulated mass, eventually forming the planets. The planets can be classified into two groups: the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) which are small and rocky, and the gas giants (Jupiter and Saturn) and ice giants (Uranus and Neptune) which are large and composed mainly of gas and ice.