The Kirkwood Gaps in the asteroid belt are due to resonances with Jupiter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Kirkwood gaps are regions in the asteroid belt where few asteroids are found, and they are caused by gravitational resonances with Jupiter that cause the asteroid orbits to become unstable. The Kirkwood Gaps are regions in the asteroid belt where no asteroids are found due to the gravitational influence of Jupiter, which exerts a resonant effect on the orbits of the asteroids, either clearing them out or forcing them into different orbits.

The Kirkwood Gaps in the Asteroid Belt Are Due to Resonances