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)There is a large population of asteroids too faint to see called the "gap" asteroids.
C)Asteroids typically cluster together and this creates "gaps" on the sky.
D)There are either pure metal or pure rock asteroids, but no mixtures. Thus there is a "gap" in the composition of asteroids.
E)Asteroids seem to avoid certain orbits around the Sun, creating "gaps" in the orbits that asteroids can have.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The "gaps" in the asteroid belt, known as Kirkwood gaps, are regions where asteroids seem to avoid certain orbits around the Sun due to gravitational resonances with Jupiter. These resonances destabilize the orbits of asteroids, leading to fewer asteroids in these specific orbital paths.

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