What compositional difference exists between planetesimals forming close to the Sun versus those forming beyond the 'frost line'?
Answer
Closer ones are primarily rocky, while outer ones incorporate substantial water ice
The temperature gradient in the early solar disk dictated the available building materials. Close to the young Sun, high temperatures prevented volatile compounds, including water, from remaining solid; thus, planetesimals forming there were composed mainly of rock and refractory materials. Further out, beyond the 'frost line,' temperatures dropped low enough for materials like water ice to condense into solid form. This allowed planetesimals in the outer region to incorporate large amounts of ice, directly influencing the eventual composition and size differences between the terrestrial and giant planets.
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