Consider the following statements: 1. Asteroids are found between the...
Asteroids are tiny bodies that move around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
Consider the following statements: 1. Asteroids are found between the...
Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'A' (1 and 2 only). Let's analyze each statement one by one:
Statement 1: Asteroids are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
- This statement is true. The region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter is known as the asteroid belt, which is a region in the solar system where many asteroids are found.
- The asteroid belt is located approximately 2.2 to 3.2 astronomical units (AU) away from the Sun, with an average distance of about 2.8 AU.
- It is estimated that there are millions of asteroids in the asteroid belt, ranging in size from small rocks to several hundred kilometers in diameter.
Statement 2: Asteroids move around the Sun.
- This statement is also true. Asteroids, like planets and other celestial bodies, orbit the Sun due to the gravitational force exerted by the Sun.
- The orbits of asteroids in the asteroid belt are mostly elliptical, meaning they are not perfect circles. As a result, asteroids have varying distances from the Sun throughout their orbits.
- The time it takes for an asteroid to complete one orbit around the Sun depends on its distance from the Sun and its orbital velocity.
Statement 3: Some of the asteroids are the size of planets.
- This statement is false. While there are some large asteroids in the asteroid belt, none of them are as large as planets.
- The largest asteroid in the asteroid belt is Ceres, which has a diameter of about 940 kilometers. Although Ceres is the largest known asteroid, it is still much smaller than any planet in our solar system.
- Planets like Earth, Mars, and Jupiter are significantly larger than even the largest asteroids.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' (1 and 2 only) because statements 1 and 2 are true, while statement 3 is false.