What do astronomers mean when they refer to "gaps" in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter?
A) There are very few asteroids with diameters between 1 and 100 kilometers, creating a "gap" in the size distribution.
B) Asteroids typically cluster together and this creates "gaps" on the sky.
C) Asteroids seem to avoid certain orbits around the Sun, creating "gaps" in the orbits that asteroids can have.
D) There is a large population of asteroids too faint to see called the "gap" asteroids.
E) There are either pure metal or pure rock asteroids, but no mixtures. Thus there is a "gap" in the composition of asteroids.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Astronomers refer to "gaps" in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter because asteroids seem to avoid certain orbits around the Sun, creating "gaps" in the orbits that asteroids can have. These gaps are caused by the gravitational influence of Jupiter, which perturbs the orbits of asteroids and can cause them to migrate or be ejected from certain regions. As a result, there are regions of the asteroid belt that are relatively empty of asteroids, creating gaps in the distribution.

What Do Astronomers Mean When They Refer to "Gaps" in the Asteroid