Proof of planetesimals for asteroid belt?

In summary, the asteroid belt objects that are primarily iron are consistent with being remnants of previous colliding planetesimals with differentiated cores, and the total mass of the asteroid belt is estimated to be only 4% of the moon's mass. This suggests that the metallic meteorites found in the asteroid belt are evidence of parent bodies that formed early in the Solar System's history, within a few million years of its formation.
  • #1
zankaon
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If asteroid belt objects are in part iron, is this then consistent with such differentiated pieces being solidified remains of a liquid core(s) of previous colliding planetesimals?

p.s. total mass of asteroid belt may be just 4% of moon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_belt" [Broken]
 
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  • #2
zankaon said:
If asteroid belt objects are essentially of just iron,

Hmmm...I thought I answered this.

Most asteroid belt objects are not just iron. Only the M-types.
 
  • #3
zankaon said:
If asteroid belt objects are in part iron, is this then consistent with such differentiated pieces being solidified remains of a liquid core(s) of previous colliding planetesimals?

p.s. total mass of asteroid belt may be just 4% of moon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroid_belt" [Broken]

Simply put, yes. More correctly the metallic meteorites are evidence of a parent body which had differentiated into metals in the core and silicates floating on top to make the crust. This was only possible while extensive amounts of Aluminium-26 was available to create sufficient heat from its radioactive decay. As Al-26 had a half-life of less than ~0.8 million years that means the parent bodies of the metallic meteoroids formed within a few million years of the formation of the Solar system.
 
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1. What is a planetesimal?

A planetesimal is a small body that formed in the early stages of the solar system's evolution, made up of dust and gas that clumped together due to gravity. These building blocks eventually grew into larger objects, such as planets or asteroids.

2. How do scientists prove the existence of planetesimals in the asteroid belt?

One way scientists prove the existence of planetesimals in the asteroid belt is by studying the composition and structure of asteroids. By analyzing the chemical makeup and physical characteristics of these objects, scientists can determine if they originated from planetesimals.

3. Why is the asteroid belt considered evidence for planetesimal formation?

The asteroid belt is considered evidence for planetesimal formation because it is a region in our solar system where thousands of small, rocky bodies orbit the sun. This suggests that these objects were formed from the same material that built the planets, which supports the theory of planetesimal formation.

4. How do planetesimals contribute to the formation of planets?

Planetesimals contribute to the formation of planets by colliding and merging with one another, gradually growing in size. As these objects continue to collide, they eventually form protoplanets, which then continue to grow into full-fledged planets.

5. Are there any other methods for proving the existence of planetesimals in the asteroid belt?

Yes, there are other methods for proving the existence of planetesimals in the asteroid belt. One method is by using computer simulations to model the evolution of the early solar system and observe how planetesimals would have formed and interacted. Another method is by studying the composition and structure of comets, which are believed to be remnants of planetesimals that formed in the outer regions of the solar system.

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