The process of accretion accounts for how
A) elements are transformed into heavier elements by nuclear reactions.
B) giant planets differentiate into rocky cores and gaseous envelopes.
C) clouds of interstellar gas and dust contract to form protostars.
D) dust grains and ice crystals coalesce to form planetesimals.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Accretion is the process by which dust grains and ice crystals in a protoplanetary disk gradually stick together and coalesce to form larger bodies called planetesimals, which can eventually form planets.

The Process of Accretion Accounts for How