The large gaps in the asteroid belt (often called Kirkwood gaps)are caused by
A)large asteroids that clear certain regions of the asteroid belt.
B)tidal forces from Jupiter.
C)tidal forces from the Sun.
D)orbital resonances with Jupiter.
E)the competing gravitational tugs of Mars and Jupiter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The large gaps in the asteroid belt are caused by orbital resonances with Jupiter. When asteroids orbit the Sun, they may experience gravitational interactions with Jupiter that cause them to follow certain orbital paths. If an asteroid's orbital period is an integer multiple of Jupiter's orbital period (which is the case for the asteroids in the gaps), the two bodies will align in their orbits at regular intervals. This can cause the asteroid's orbit to be destabilized and lead to its ejection from the asteroid belt. Thus, over time, Jupiter's gravity has cleared out these regions of the asteroid belt, resulting in the Kirkwood gaps.

The Large Gaps in the Asteroid Belt (Often Called Kirkwood