Differentiation of the core from the mantle early in Earth's history was possible because the planet was ________ at the time.
A)very cold
B)very hot
C)very small
D)the only planet in the Solar System

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Early in Earth's history, the planet was very hot due to the heat produced by the decay of radioactive elements and gravitational potential energy of accreting material. This high temperature allowed for the differentiation of the core from the mantle, as the dense metallic core sank towards the center of the planet while the less dense silicate material rose to the surface to form the mantle.

Differentiation of the Core from the Mantle Early in Earth's