Which of the following is a consequence of the discovery of hot Jupiters for the nebular theory of solar system formation?
A)It has been discarded.
B)It has been modified to allow for the formation of gas giants within the frost line.
C)It has been modified to allow for planets to migrate inwards or outwards due to gravitational interactions.
D)Its status is unclear and awaits further observations that will determine whether hot Jupiters are dense Earth like planets or gas giants.
E)It remains unchanged as it only needs to explain our Solar System.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The discovery of hot Jupiters, gas giant planets orbiting close to their stars, has challenged the nebular theory of solar system formation that suggests gas giants should only form beyond the frost line. As a result, the theory has been modified to allow for planets to migrate inwards or outwards due to gravitational interactions, including interactions with their own protoplanetary disks or with other planets. This modification explains how hot Jupiters could have formed farther out in the solar system before migrating inwards, thus maintaining the validity of the nebular theory.

Which of the Following Is a Consequence of the Discovery