What factor more than any other do you think led to Jupiter

What factor, more than any other, do you think led to Jupiter having so many moons compared to the inner terrestrial planets?

A. The Sun is far enough away from Jupiter that its heat is insufficient to melt icy particles orbiting the planet; these particles coalesced to form moons.

B. Jupiter\'s rapid rotation was important in spinning off most of these moons from its surface.

C. Jupiter has an extensive atmosphere from which these moons have been formed.

D. The powerful gravitational field produced by Jupiter\'s large mass has allowed this planet to capture moons from the nearby asteroid belt.

Solution

The answer is D. The powerful gravitational field produced by Jupiter\'s large mass has allowed this planet to capture moons from the nearby asteroid belt.