Answer:
C. It provided a heat source to help drive layer differentiation.
Explanation:
The higher proportion of radioactive elements in protoplanets aided planetary development by providing a heat source that aided in layer differentiation.
Numerous small bodies known as protoplanets were present during the early stages of the solar system's formation. These protoplanets gradually accumulated mass through collisions and gravitational interactions, eventually maturing into the planets we see today.
Radioactive elements, such as uranium, thorium, and potassium, are unstable and decay radioactively, producing heat as a byproduct. A localised heat source was created because of the presence of these radioactive elements within the protoplanets. As the radioactive elements decayed, they released significant heat energy, contributing to the protoplanet's overall heat budget.
The heat produced by these elements' radioactive decay was critical in driving the process of layer differentiation within the protoplanets. The differentiation of different materials within a planetary body based on their densities is called layer differentiation. The materials within a protoplanet became more molten and wholly or partially melted as the interior heated up due to radioactive decay.
Because of their higher density, heavier elements sank toward the core during this molten state, while lighter elements rose to the surface or formed an intermediate layer. In the case of terrestrial planets like Earth, this process is known as planetary differentiation, and it resulted in the formation of distinct layers such as a metallic core, a rocky mantle, and a crust.
The heat produced by radioactive decay was also crucial in shaping the internal structure of planets. It aided in forming the mantle, a molten or partially molten layer beneath the crust. Convective currents driven by this heat were critical in plate tectonics and material recycling on the planet's surface.
