Why do some scientists think that Jupiter's existence may have been critical for life to evolve on Earth?
A) It prevented the Earth from migrating outward and thus ensured a stable climate.
B) It prevented the Earth from migrating inward and thus ensured a stable climate.
C) It kicked out many comets from the inner solar system through gravitational encounters, thus ending the heavy bombardment phase of the solar system.
D) Meteorites from Jupiter may have contained the bacteria that started life on Earth.
E) It stabilized the Earth's axis tilt and thus ensured a stable climate.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jupiter's massive gravity has allowed it to clear the area around its orbit, preventing many comets and asteroids from colliding with the inner planets. It is thought that this process of "sweeping up" debris from the inner solar system was critical in ending the heavy bombardment phase of the solar system, which was a time of intense meteorite impacts on the surfaces of the inner planets. Without Jupiter's gravitational influence, many of these impacts could have been catastrophic and prevented life from evolving on Earth.

Why Do Some Scientists Think That Jupiter's Existence May Have