Question

5 multiple choice 2 points why are the rocky planets closer to the sun than the gas giants? pressure from the sun compressed the material into rocks when forming the plane gravity attracted the heavier material closer to the sun the rocky planets formed first and so are closer to the sun heat from the sun burned up all of the nearby ice, leaving only rocky material

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option 1: Sun's pressure compressing material into rocks is not the main reason for rocky planets' proximity. The formation process involves accretion of materials, not just pressure-induced rock formation.
• Option 2: Gravity attracting heavier material closer is incorrect. The differentiation of materials in the solar nebula (where planets formed) was due to temperature, not just gravity's attraction of "heavier" in a simple sense. The inner solar system was hotter, allowing only rocky (refractory) materials to condense, while outer regions were cooler for ice and gas to condense.
• Option 3: Rocky planets forming first is not the cause of their proximity. The location of formation is tied to temperature in the solar nebula, not the order of formation.
• Option 4: Heat from the Sun in the inner solar system (near the Sun) was high enough to vaporize/boil away volatile ices (like water, methane, ammonia ice). This left behind non - volatile, rocky (refractory) materials to accrete into rocky planets. In the outer solar system, lower temperatures allowed ices to remain, leading to the formation of gas giants with large amounts of ice and gas. So this option correctly explains why rocky planets are closer.

Answer:

D. Heat from the Sun burned up all of the nearby ice, leaving only rocky material