Differentiation of the core from the mantle early in the Earth's history was possible because the planet was ________ at the time.
A) very cold
B) very hot
C) very small
D) the only planet in the Solar System

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The differentiation of the core from the mantle requires a large temperature gradient, which can only occur if the planet is very hot. The heat generated from the early accretion of material, radioactive decay, and collisions with other bodies would have kept the Earth hot enough to allow for this differentiation process.

Differentiation of the Core from the Mantle Early in the Earth's