Why is Jupiter so big?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Formed early, grabbed more gas
Formed early, grabbed more gas ✓ — Correct! Jupiter formed quickly in the early solar system and grew massive enough to pull in huge amounts of hydrogen and helium gas. Its gravity attracted more and more material. It's 300 times Earth's mass but could fit 1,300 Earths inside!
Two planets merged together — Wrong. While collisions happened, Jupiter's size comes from gas accumulation, not planetary mergers.
Made of heavier materials — Wrong. Jupiter is mostly hydrogen and helium—the lightest elements! It's big because it has so much gas, not heavy materials.
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