Which individual formalized the nebular hypothesis around 1796 with a mathematically grounded mechanism?
Answer
Pierre-Simon Laplace
Pierre-Simon Laplace is credited with popularizing and formally proposing the nebular hypothesis around 1796. While Immanuel Kant had suggested earlier concepts involving gravitational collapse, Laplace provided a detailed mechanism grounded in mathematics. His articulation focused specifically on how centrifugal forces acting on the rotating cloud caused material to be flung off, which subsequently formed the planets, setting the key reference point for future scientific development of the model.
Related Questions
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