Astronomy Practice Exam

Where are most asteroids located in the solar system?

1. Between Mars and Jupiter

2. Near the orbit of Mercury

3. Beyond Neptune

4. Inside Earth's atmosphere

The correct answer is: Between Mars and Jupiter

The most significant concentration of asteroids in the solar system is found in the region known as the asteroid belt, which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This belt is populated with numerous rocky bodies of various sizes, ranging from small boulders to objects that are hundreds of kilometers in diameter. The formation of the asteroid belt is linked to the early solar system's dynamics. While the planets were forming, the gravitational influence of Jupiter prevented these rocky bodies from coalescing into a full-fledged planet. As a result, they remain as separate entities, orbiting the Sun within the belt. In terms of the other locations mentioned, asteroids are generally sparse near the orbit of Mercury due to the proximity to the Sun and the gravitational influence it exerts. Beyond Neptune lies the Kuiper Belt, which contains objects classified as trans-Neptunian, including some icy bodies and dwarf planets, but it's not primarily populated by the rocky asteroids that characterize the asteroid belt. Lastly, asteroids do not exist inside Earth’s atmosphere; any meteoroids entering the atmosphere tend to be much smaller and typically burn up before reaching the surface. Thus, the concentration of asteroids found between Mars and Jupiter stands out as the correct and most