A few of the largest asteroids appear to be spherical. How does this occur?
A) The visible outer atmospheres of these large asteroids are spherical even though the underlying surfaces are irregular.
B) The largest asteroids solidified from spherical gas clouds in their early history and retained this shape.
C) Repeated collisions with other asteroids have worn the largest asteroids down to spheres.
D) Self-gravity was sufficient to pull the largest asteroids into a spherical shape during their early history.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gravitational force of an object increases with its mass. For the largest asteroids, their self-gravity is strong enough to overcome the material strength of the asteroid, pulling it into a spherical shape. This is a common process for larger celestial bodies, where their gravity is sufficient to shape them into a sphere during their formation or early history.

A Few of the Largest Asteroids Appear to Be Spherical