undlyzed a sample of material from a comet They found water and carbon disease in the support the claim that comets may have helped form tarths atmon there and ocean. Which additional data would most help support the claim that comets helped form Larthy atmenghare and dictions A. the rate at which comets collided with early Earth B. the area of the Solar System where most comers are now C. the percentage comets that collide with land compared to ocean D. the amount of heat produced when a comet moves through Earths atmosphere

The correct answer is **A. the rate at which comets collided with early Earth.**<br /><br />Here's why:<br /><br />The claim suggests that comets *delivered* water and carbon-based molecules to early Earth, contributing to the formation of the atmosphere and oceans. To support this, we need evidence that a significant amount of cometary material could have realistically reached Earth. Knowing the rate of cometary collisions during Earth's early history would provide crucial information about how much water and carbon-based molecules were potentially delivered.<br /><br />The other options are less relevant:<br /><br />* **B. the area of the Solar System where most comets are now:** The current location of comets doesn't tell us much about their distribution billions of years ago when Earth was forming.<br />* **C. the percentage of comets that collide with land compared to ocean:** While interesting, this doesn't address the overall quantity of delivered material, which is key to the claim.<br />* **D. the amount of heat produced when a comet moves through Earth's atmosphere:** While heat from cometary impacts could be a factor in atmospheric development, the primary concern here is the delivery of water and carbon-based molecules, not the heat generated.<br />