How does impact accretion contribute to the differentiation of different layers in a planetiesimal?

Answer 1

Impact accretion contributes to the differentiation of planetesimals by generating significant heat through the high-energy collisions between smaller bodies. This heat can cause the melting of materials within the planetesimal, allowing denser materials, such as metals, to sink toward the center while lighter materials, like silicates, rise to the surface. As a result, this process facilitates the formation of distinct layers based on density, leading to a differentiated structure similar to that of larger planetary bodies.