One model of galaxy formation occurs when sections of gas clouds collapse into small pieces and then merge into larger pieces due to gravity. The Milky Way is an example of the _____ model or the ______ model.
One model of galaxy formation occurs when sections of gas clouds collapse into small pieces and then merge into larger pieces due to gravity. The Milky Way is an example of the hierarchical merging model or the bottom-up model.
One model of galaxy formation occurs when sections of gas clouds collapse into small pieces and then merge into larger pieces due to gravity. The Milky Way is an example of the hierarchical model or the bottom-up model. This model suggests that smaller structures such as gas clouds or dwarf galaxies first formed and then merged together over time to form larger galaxies like the Milky Way.
One model of galaxy formation that involves the collapse and merging of gas clouds is known as the hierarchical model or the bottom-up model.
To understand how the Milky Way fits into this model, let me explain how it works:
1. Initial conditions: The universe starts with small density fluctuations, which are slight variations in the concentration of matter. These fluctuations arose from quantum mechanical fluctuations during the early stages of the universe.
2. Growth of dark matter halos: Dark matter, which is an invisible form of matter, is thought to play a significant role in galaxy formation. Over time, gravity acts on these initial fluctuations, causing dark matter to clump together and form structures called dark matter halos.
3. Gas collapsing into halos: As dark matter halos grow, their gravitational pull attracts surrounding gas. The gas clouds collapse under gravity's influence, forming smaller clumps within the halos.
4. Merger process: Over time, these smaller clumps of gas within halos merge due to gravitational attraction, forming larger and more massive objects. This merger process continues, with bigger structures forming by merging smaller ones.
5. Formation of the Milky Way: In this model, the Milky Way, our home galaxy, is believed to have formed through numerous episodes of gas collapse and merger processes. Smaller gas clouds collapsed and merged to form gigantic clouds, eventually leading to the formation of the Milky Way galaxy.
Therefore, the Milky Way can be considered an example of the hierarchical model, or the bottom-up model, where small gas clouds collapse and merge to form larger structures like our galaxy.