Question

Which of the following statements describes the relation between what we observe and the predictions of the nebular model of the formation of the Solar System?

a. The model predicts icy planets nearest to the Sun and we observe icy planets there.
b. The model predicts icy planets throughout the Solar System and we observe icy planets only far from the Sun.
c. The model predicts icy planets throughout the Solar System and we observe icy planets everywhere.
d. The model predicts icy planets throughout the Solar System and we observe icy planets only nearest to the Sun.
e. The model predicts icy planets farthest from the Sun and we observe icy planets there.

Answer 1

a. The model predicts icy planets nearest to the Sun and we observe icy planets there.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nebular model is a theory that explains the formation of the Solar System from a cloud of gas and dust known as the solar nebula. According to this model, the solar nebula collapsed under its own gravity to form the Sun and the planets. As the solar nebula cooled, solid particles called planetesimals formed. These planetesimals collided and merged to form the planets. The model predicts that the inner planets, including Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, formed from material that was rich in rocks and metals, while the outer planets, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, formed from material that was rich in ices such as water, methane, and ammonia. The model also predicts that the Kuiper Belt, a region of small, icy objects beyond Neptune, contains leftover planetesimals that did not form into planets. Observations of the Solar System support this model, including the presence of icy planets in the outer Solar System.