Final answer:
The statement not used for modeling the solar system's formation is that all planets orbit within the magnetosphere of the Sun, as the planets are actually embedded in the heliosphere, not orbiting within it. Option D is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic or pattern of the planets not used for modeling the formation process of the solar system is D. All the planets orbit within the magnetosphere of the Sun. This statement is not accurate because the magnetosphere of the Sun, also known as the heliosphere, does indeed extend far beyond the planets, but the planets do not orbit within it; they are embedded in it. The solar system's formation is modeled on several key regularities:
- The planets all revolve around the Sun in the same direction, which reflects angular momentum conservation from the solar nebula
- The planets all lie on approximately the same orbital plane, indicative of a flattened disk from which they formed
- The planets mostly rotate in the same direction as the Sun, also a remnant of the initial angular momentum of the pre-solar nebula
The distribution of chemical elements among the planets is not a single pattern used for modeling the solar system's formation, but aspects of it are considered when examining variations in planet formation, such as the differences between terrestrial and gas giant planets.