PLANETESIMAL Meaning and
Definition
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A planetesimal refers to a small celestial body that exists in space and is believed to be a building block in the formation of planets. The term "planetesimal" is derived from "planet" and the Greek word "soma" which means "body." These planetesimals played a crucial role in the early stages of planetary formation during the birth of our solar system and other planetary systems.
Typically ranging in size from a few kilometers to several hundred kilometers in diameter, planetesimals are composed of various materials, such as rock, ice, and metal. They are remnants of the protoplanetary disk, a rotating disk of gas and dust that surrounds a young star. As particles within the disk collide and aggregate over time, they gradually form planetesimals. These objects continue to grow through accretion, as they gravitationally attract more material.
Planetesimals serve as the building blocks for protoplanets, which are larger bodies that have the potential to become full-fledged planets. Through further accumulation of matter, protoplanets can develop enough mass to become dominant in their respective region, attracting other nearby planetesimals and protoplanets through gravitational interactions.
The study of planetesimals is essential in understanding the formation and evolution of planetary systems, providing insights into the mechanisms behind the formation of our own solar system and the vast array of planets that exist within our universe.
Common Misspellings for PLANETESIMAL
- olanetesimal
- llanetesimal
- -lanetesimal
- 0lanetesimal
- pkanetesimal
- ppanetesimal
- poanetesimal
- plznetesimal
- plsnetesimal
- plwnetesimal
- plqnetesimal
- plabetesimal
- plametesimal
- plajetesimal
- plahetesimal
- planwtesimal
- planstesimal
- plandtesimal
- planrtesimal
- planetesimel
- planetisimal
Etymology of PLANETESIMAL
The word "planetesimal" was coined by the American astronomer and astrophysicist George Howard Darwin in 1902. It is composed of two parts: "planeta", which is derived from the Latin word "planēta" meaning "planet", and "-esimal", which is a suffix indicating something small or minute. Thus, "planetesimal" refers to small celestial bodies that are believed to be the building blocks of planets.
Similar spelling words for PLANETESIMAL
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