Does the Oort cloud exist? If so, why can't we see it?
Answers
Answer:
The Oort cloud is a theoretical concept. It is presently beyond empirical observation.
Explanation:
the solar system is believed to be approximately 4.5 billion years old. This number is based on the radioactive decay of Uranium 238 to Lead. Assuming that astroids containing Uranium 238 started out with 100% Uranium the age of the rock can be calculated. The astroids commonly contain about 50% lead giving a half life of 4.5 billion.
Comets however have an observable life of 5,000 - 10,000 years.
It is assumed that the astroids and the comets were both formed at the same time when the solar system was first formed. These means that the comets must be 4.5 billion years old.
The Oort cloud is proposed as an explanation of how comets can be observed to decay and disappear in thousands of years when comets must be billions of years old according to the nebular theory of the formation of the universe.
The theory is that the comets were formed in an elliptical orbit far outside of the observable solar system. A cosmic object passing through the Oort belt can dislodge a comet causing the comet to then enter the observable solar system. As the comet made of frozen ice and dust orbits closer to the sun the comet evaporates in thousands of years. According to the theory a vast reservoir of comets exists outside of the observable solar system.
The Oort belt then is a theoretical concept that explains the contradiction between the observations of the age of the comets and the observations of the radioactivity in astroids as well as the theory of the nebular hypothesis of the formation of the solar system. Based just on the observations of the comets the solar system would be believed to be only tens of thousands of years old.
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