Jean-

Jeffreys
The Beginning of
Tidal Theory
the Solar System
PRESENTATION BY GROUP 7 ( XI – ST. PERPETUA) | EARTH SCIENCE
 Jean-
Jeffreys
Tidal Theory
PRESENTATION BY GROUP 7 ( XI – ST. PERPETUA) | EARTH SCIENCE
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this discussion, we’ll be able to
answer these following questions:

 Who were Sir James Jeans and Sir Harold Jeffrey?

 What is the Tidal Theory of the Solar System?

 WHO WERE
Jean &
Jeffreys?
The Theorists – Jean-Jeffreys Tidal Theory
Sir James
Hopwood Jeans
(11 SEPTEMBER 1877 – 16 SEPTEMBER 1946)

 He is one of the proponents of the tidal theory.

Sir James
Hopwood Jeans
(11 SEPTEMBER 1877 – 16 SEPTEMBER 1946)

 He was an English physicist, astronomer and

mathematician.
Sir James
Hopwood Jeans
(11 SEPTEMBER 1877 – 16 SEPTEMBER 1946)

 He made multiple contributions in many areas of physics,

including quantum theory, theory of radiation and stellar evolution.
Sir Harold
Jeffreys
(22 APRIL 1891 – 18 MARCH 1989)

 He is one of the proponents of the tidal theory.

Sir Harold
Jeffreys
(22 APRIL 1891 – 18 MARCH 1989)
 He was an English mathematician,
statistician, geophysicist, and astronomer.
Sir Harold
Jeffreys
(22 APRIL 1891 – 18 MARCH 1989)
 His book Theory of Probability, which first appeared in
1939, played an important role in the revival of the
Bayesian view of probability.
 What is the
Tidal
Theory?
The Overview – Jean-Jeffreys Tidal Theory
The Tidal Hypothesis
 The Tidal Hypothesis
Jeans postulated his hypothesis on the basis of certain
axioms (self-proved facts) as given below:
 The solar system was formed from the sun
and another intruding star.
 In the beginning the sun was a big
incandescent gaseous mass of matter.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
 Besides the sun, there was another star
termed as ‘intruding star’ in the universe.
This intruding star was much bigger in size
than the primitive sun.
 The primitive sun was stationary and was
rotating on its axis.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
 The ‘intruding star’ was moving along such
a path in such a way that it was destined to
come nearer to the primitive sun.
 There was a great impact of the tidal
force of the intruding star on the surface of
the primitive sun.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
 Due to massive gravitational force of the ‘intruding star’,
huge amount of matter was ejected from the primitive
sun, which later on became the building material of
future planets. According to the Newton’s law of
universal gravitation (1687) everybody in the universe
attracts every other body with a force which is directly
proportional to the product of the masses of the two
bodies and inversely proportional to the square of the
distance between them.
The Tidal Hypothesis
 As a result of a detailed mathematical
analysis, Jeans concluded in 1916 that the
tidal interaction between the Sun and a
passing star would raise tides on the Sun
resulting in the loss of a single cigar-shaped
filament of hot gas.
The Tidal Hypothesis
 This hot gas would then condense directly
into the planets instead of going through a
planetesimal stage. The central section of
the "cigar" would give rise to the largest
planets – Jupiter and Saturn – while the
tapering ends would provide the substance
for the smaller worlds.
THE SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE JEANS-JEFFREY TIDAL HYPOTHESIS
(a) A tidal bulge is induced.
THE SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE JEANS-JEFFREY TIDAL HYPOTHESIS
(b) A filament of material is drawn out
in which condensations form.
THE SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF THE JEANS-JEFFREY TIDAL HYPOTHESIS
(c) The produced protoplanets orbit
the Sun with high eccentricities.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
Modification by Jeffreys:
 There were three stars in the universe
before the origin of our solar system. One
was our primitive sun, the second one was its
‘companion star’ and the third one was
‘intruding star’ which was moving towards
‘companion star’.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
 Thus, the intruding star collided against the
‘companion star’. Due to head-on collision the
companion star was completely smashed and
shattered, some shattered portions were scattered in
the sky while remaining debris started revolving around
the primitive sun. However, the impact of collision and
explosion enabled the intruding star to clear itself off
from the gravitational attraction of the primitive sun and
gradually vanished in the universe.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
 The planets of our solar system were formed
from the remaining debris of the companion star.
It may be pointed out that Jeffreys suggested
modifications in the tidal hypothesis of James
Jeans with the intention to remove major
inherent weak points of the tidal hypothesis so
that it can withstand the criticisms of the modern
scientific world.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
Evaluation:
 The tidal hypothesis as propounded by James Jeans
and modified by Harold Jeffreys enjoyed a long lease of
popularity and wide appreciation till the end of the 1st
half of the 20th century because of its simplicity, inherent
logic and scientific appeal but the hypothesis was
severely criticized on various grounds. Even Jeffreys
accepted in Guttenberg (1951) that his modified version
of tidal hypothesis needed substantial modifications and
in some places was completely wrong.
 The Tidal Hypothesis
Concrete Explanation:
 Large stars passed near the sun due
to the gravitational pull of a gaseous
tide was raised on the surface of sun
and the star. As the sun come nearer,
the tide increased in size and form
planets.
 FAC
FUN TS
Fact  According to the tidal
theory the earth
#1 developed a liquid core
soon after its gaseous
origin. The earth is
supposed to have
cooled from the
expansion of the gases
and radiation of heat
from the outer crust.
Fact
 Many scientists
#2 such as Galileo
and Newton
had supported
this theory.
Fact  Jeffreys wrote to
Gutenberg in 1951
#3 that his tidal theory
that was propounded
in ' 1929 was quite
wrong in some places
and needed
modification.
 MEMBERS:
- End of - Abadilla
Amoguis
discussion Dalagan
BY GROUP 7 ( XI – ST. PERPETUA)
Lim
Pacete