Question

PLEASE HELP ME ASAP, DUE TODAY! How does the solar nebula theory explain the significant density difference between the Terrestrial and Jovian planets? (Select all that apply.)

- The large gravitational pull of the forming outer planets caused them to be bombarded by high-density comets, asteroids, and planetesimals.

- The gravity of the Sun pulled all gases away from the inner planets, but did not reach the outer planets, leaving them with less dense material.

- Terrestrial planets formed from solid material that condensed out of the solar nebula close to the Sun, where it was too hot for them to capture gases.

- The increased angular momentum of the outer planets caused them to contract into more dense objects.

- Jovian planets started out with solid material as well, and were far enough from the Sun for a layer of ice to form, after which they became massive enough to capture slower-moving gases.

Answer 1

• Terrestrial planets formed from solid material that condensed out of the solar nebula close to the Sun, where it was too hot for them to capture gases. This made them smaller and denser than the outer planets.
• Jovian planets started out with solid material as well and were far enough from the Sun for a layer of ice to form, after which they became massive enough to capture slower-moving gases. This made them larger and less dense than the inner planets.

Step-by-step explanation:

• The large gravitational pull of the forming outer planets caused them to be bombarded by high-density comets, asteroids, and planetesimals. This is not a correct answer, because the opposite is true: the outer planets were bombarded by low-density icy bodies, while the inner planets were bombarded by high-density rocky bodies.
• The gravity of the Sun pulled all gases away from the inner planets but did not reach the outer planets, leaving them with less dense material. This is not a correct answer, because the Sun’s gravity did not affect the distribution of gases in the solar nebula. Instead, it was the temperature and pressure gradients that determined how much gas could be retained by each planet.
• The increased angular momentum of the outer planets caused them to contract into more dense objects. This is not a correct answer, because angular momentum does not affect density directly. In fact, higher angular momentum would cause a planet to bulge at the equator and become less spherical.