Which one of these statements about asteroids and the asteroid belt is NOT true?
A) The asteroid belt contains several dwarf planets.
B) All of the asteroids together would make a mass much less than the mass of the Moon.
C) Some asteroids have their own moons.
D) The gravitational influence of Jupiter helps prevent the asteroids from coalescing into a larger body.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The asteroid belt does not contain several dwarf planets. The term "dwarf planet" is specifically used for celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, have enough mass for their self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a nearly round shape, are not moons, and have not cleared their orbital path of other debris. The known dwarf planets in our solar system are located in the Kuiper Belt and beyond, not in the asteroid belt. The asteroid belt mainly contains smaller bodies, or asteroids, and not dwarf planets.

Which One of These Statements About Asteroids and the Asteroid