Questions: Question 14 (1 point) Why did iron and nickel separate from silicon and aluminum when Earth was settling into layers? They have opposite charges. They have different densities. They have different temperatures. They were pushed down by other elements.

The answer is the second one (or B): They have different densities.

Explanation for each option:

• They have opposite charges: This is incorrect. The separation of elements during the formation of Earth's layers is not due to their electrical charges but rather their physical properties, such as density.
• They have different densities: This is correct. During the early formation of Earth, the planet was in a molten state. Heavier elements like iron and nickel sank towards the center due to their higher densities, while lighter elements like silicon and aluminum remained closer to the surface.
• They have different temperatures: This is incorrect. While temperature differences can affect the state of matter (solid, liquid, gas), the separation of elements into layers was primarily driven by density differences.
• They were pushed down by other elements: This is incorrect. The process was not about being pushed down by other elements but rather the natural sinking of denser materials due to gravity.

Summary: Iron and nickel separated from silicon and aluminum when Earth was settling into layers because they have different densities. The denser materials, iron and nickel, sank towards the core, while the less dense materials, silicon and aluminum, remained closer to the surface.