Can you explain the answer of this question below:Asteroids are found ...
The asteroid belt is the circumstellar disc in the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets.
This question is part of UPSC exam. View all UPSC courses
Can you explain the answer of this question below:Asteroids are found ...
Asteroids and their location in the solar system
Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the Sun. They are remnants from the formation of the solar system and are found mainly in the asteroid belt, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. However, asteroids can also be found in other parts of the solar system, such as:
- Near Earth: These are asteroids that have orbits that come close to Earth. They are also known as Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and are closely monitored for potential impact hazards.
- Trojan asteroids: These are asteroids that share the orbit of a planet, but are located at a stable point known as a Lagrange point, which is 60 degrees ahead or behind the planet.
- Kuiper Belt: This is a region beyond Neptune that contains many small, icy objects, including dwarf planets like Pluto.
Answer to the question
The question asks where asteroids are found between the orbits of Mars and another planet. The only option that fits this description is option D, which says between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter. Therefore, the correct answer is option D.
Can you explain the answer of this question below:Asteroids are found ...
Asteroids are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Explanation:
Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the sun. They are often referred to as minor planets or planetoids. Most asteroids are found in the asteroid belt, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
The asteroid belt is a region of the solar system that contains millions of asteroids. These asteroids vary in size, shape, and composition. Some are only a few meters in diameter, while others are several hundred kilometers in size.
The asteroid belt was formed billions of years ago when the solar system was still in its early stages of formation. It is believed that the gravitational influence of Jupiter prevented the formation of a large planet in this region of the solar system. Instead, the asteroids that formed in this region were either ejected from the solar system or collided with other objects.
In addition to the asteroid belt, there are also asteroids that orbit closer to the sun than Mars (known as the inner belt) and asteroids that orbit beyond Jupiter (known as the outer belt). However, the majority of known asteroids are found in the asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.