It is so pleasant to realize that planet Earth has proved to be the most suitable for various forms of life. Or almost nothing but the molten cosmic mass of an indefinite form floating in zero gravity. But first things first.

Universal explosion

Early Theories of the Origin of the Universe

Scientists have put forward various hypotheses explaining the birth of the Earth. In the 18th century, the French claimed that the cause was a cosmic catastrophe as a result of the collision of the Sun with a comet. The British claimed that an asteroid flying past the star had cut off its part, from which a whole series of celestial bodies subsequently appeared.

German minds advanced further. They considered the prototype of the formation of the planets of the solar system a cold dust cloud of incredible size. Later they decided that the dust was hot. One thing is clear: the formation of the Earth is inextricably linked with the formation of all the planets and stars that make up the solar system.

Big Bang

Today, astronomers and physicists are unanimous in their opinion that the Universe was formed after the Big Bang. Billions of years ago, a giant fireball shattered into pieces in outer space. This caused a giant ejection of matter, particles of which possessed tremendous energy. It was the power of the latter that prevented the elements from creating atoms, forcing them to repel each other. This was facilitated by the high temperature (about a billion degrees).But after a million years, the space cooled to about 4000º. From that moment began the attraction and formation of atoms of light gaseous substances (hydrogen and helium).

Over time, they grouped into clusters called nebulae. Such were the prototypes of future celestial bodies. Gradually, the particles inside rotated faster, increasing temperature and energy, causing the nebula to shrink. Having reached a critical point, at a certain moment, a thermonuclear reaction was launched, contributing to the formation of the nucleus. So the bright Sun was born.

Earth Appearance - From Gas to Solid

The young luminary possessed powerful forces of gravity. Their influence caused the formation of other planets at different distances from clusters of cosmic dust and gases, including the Earth. If we compare the composition of different celestial bodies of the solar system, it becomes noticeable that they are not the same.

Mercury is mainly composed of metal, the most resistant to solar radiation. Venus, Earth have a rocky surface. But Saturn and Jupiter remain gas giants due to their greatest remoteness. By the way, they protect other planets from meteorites, pushing them away from their orbits.

Earth Formation

The formation of the Earth began according to the same principle that underlay the appearance of the sun itself. It happened about 4.6 billion years ago. Heavy metals (iron, nickel) as a result of gravity and compression penetrated the center of a young planet, forming a core.High temperature created all the conditions for a series of nuclear reactions. There was a separation of the mantle and core.

The heat release melted and threw light silicon onto the surface. He became the prototype of the first bark. As the planet cools, volatile gases burst out from the bowels. This was followed by volcanic eruptions. The molten lava subsequently formed rocks.

Gas mixtures were held at a distance around the Earth by gravity. They made up the atmosphere, initially without oxygen. Meetings with ice comets, meteorites led to the emergence of oceans from condensed vapors and melted ice. The continents were disconnected, reunited, swimming in the hot mantle. This has been repeated many times for almost 4 billion years.

Way to life

Forming, the Earth strengthened the ability to attract cosmic particles (stones, asteroids, meteorites, dust). Falling to the surface, they penetrated gradually into the bowels (centrifugal forces acted), completely giving up their own energy. The planet has condensed. Chemical reactions served as prerequisites for the formation of the first life forms - unicellular.

In the process of evolution, when photosynthesis began, new species were born - already multicellular. They could exist due to the appearance of air with oxygen and the ozone layer. Over millions of years, some living forms have disappeared due to destructive icing, warming, volcanic eruptions. Surviving acquired new signs and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.

Our planet arose from a bunch of cosmic dust (nebula) under the influence of solar energythermonuclear reactions and attractive forces. Its formation took so many years that, in comparison with this, a person with his life takes only a moment from the point of view of the Universe. And he is obliged to protect his house, and not destroy it, because he has nowhere else to live.