What critical core mass must an outer system protoplanet achieve to trigger the rapid capture of hydrogen and helium gas?
Answer
Around 10 times the mass of Earth
The formation of massive gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn hinges upon reaching a specific threshold of solid mass before the surrounding primordial gas nebula dissipates. Once the icy/rocky core of an outer protoplanet accumulates matter equivalent to approximately ten times the mass of Earth, its resulting gravitational pull becomes immense. This overwhelming gravity allows the core to rapidly ingest and retain the vast quantities of light gases, primarily hydrogen and helium, enveloping itself in the enormous gaseous envelopes characteristic of gas giants.
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