Which hypothesis suggests that the solar system began with rotating clouds of dust and gas?

The hypothesis that suggests the solar system began with rotating clouds of dust and gas is the solar nebula hypothesis. This idea posits that the solar system formed from a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, known as a solar nebula. Due to gravitational collapse, regions within this cloud began to coalesce and rotate, leading to the formation of the Sun at its center, with the remaining material eventually forming into planets, moons, asteroids, and other celestial bodies.

This hypothesis is well-supported by observations of other star-forming regions in the universe, where similar clouds show the processes of star formation. It explains the angular momentum present in the solar system, as well as the flat, disk-like shape of the planets' orbits. The solar nebula hypothesis is consistent with our understanding of the processes that govern cosmic evolution and the formation of planetary systems.