Light elements like hydrogen and helium form a large percentage of the outer planets and Sun is made up primarily of hydrogen.Why are these elements nearly absent from the inner planets?
A)The Sun captured all of the hydrogen during its formation.
B)These light elements are blown away from the inner planets by the solar wind.
C)It is a mystery that has never been solved by science.
D)Hydrogen and helium have all been bound up by chemical reactions on the inner planets and are held in rock.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The solar wind, which is a stream of highly energetic particles emitted by the Sun, blows away the lighter elements like hydrogen and helium from the inner planets towards the outer regions of the Solar System. This is why these elements are more abundant in the outer planets and the Sun, where the solar wind is weaker due to the larger distance from the Sun.

Light Elements Like Hydrogen and Helium Form a Large Percentage