Asteroid Belt Basics
Where is the asteroid belt located?
Between Mars and Jupiter
What does orbital period mean?
Time taken to complete one orbit around the Sun
What is density a measure of?
Mass divided by volume
Are dwarf planets generally hot or cold?
Cold
Do asteroids have strong or weak gravity?
Weak gravity
Is the asteroid belt crowded or mostly empty space?
Mostly empty space
Do asteroids orbit the Sun in the same direction as planets?
Yes, generally the same direction
Name one main type of asteroid composition.
Rocky / carbon-rich / metallic
Why are dwarf planets very cold?
They are far from the Sun
Why is gravity weak on asteroids?
They have very small mass
What type of paths do asteroids follow around the Sun?
Elliptical orbits
What is the orbital period of Ceres?
About 4.6 Earth years
What materials make up most dwarf planets?
Rock and ice
What is the average temperature of Pluto?
About −225 °C
Why is Ceres able to influence nearby asteroids but still unable to clear its orbit?
It has some mass but not enough gravity to dominate its region
What is the approximate orbital distance range of the asteroid belt?
About 2–3.2 AU from the Sun
Which dwarf planet has the longest orbital period listed?
Makemake (about 305 years)
Which dwarf planet has the highest density?
Haumea
Which object experiences extreme temperature swings in the asteroid belt?
Ceres
Why can Ceres not clear its orbit?
Its gravity is too weak
Which planet’s gravity mainly controls the asteroid belt?
Jupiter
Which dwarf planet orbits the Sun at around 68 AU?
Eris
What surface ices are found on Pluto?
Nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide
Which dwarf planet has the lowest average temperature listed? What is the temperature?
Eris (about −243 °C)
Explain why Haumea has an elliptical shape.
Its very fast rotation causes it to stretch out