We believe that our galaxy was formed from a huge cloud of gas. The original cloud was far larger than the present size of the galaxy, was more or less spherical, and was rotating very much more slowly than the galaxy is now. In this sketch, we see the original cloud and the galaxy as it is now (seen edgewise). Explain how the inward pull of gravity and the conservation of angular momentum contribute to the galaxy's present shape and why it rotates faster now than when it was a larger, spherical cloud.

Transcribed Image Text:

Now Then