According to our theory of solar system formation, why did Uranus and Neptune end up to be much less massive than Jupiter and Saturn?
A) Particles in the solar nebula were more spread out at greater distances, so that accretion took longer and there was less time to pull in gas before the solar wind cleared the nebula.
B) Ices were able to condense at the distance of Jupiter and Saturn, but only rock and metal could condense at the distances of Uranus and Neptune.
C) The colder gas in the outer regions of the solar nebula had less gravity and therefore could not gather up into such large balls as it could closer in.
D) The size differences are thought to be a random coincidence.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the theory of solar system formation, particles in the solar nebula were more spread out at greater distances. It took longer for accretion to occur, and there was less time to pull in gas before the solar wind cleared the nebula. This led to Uranus and Neptune being less massive than Jupiter and Saturn.

According to Our Theory of Solar System Formation, Why Did