AFOQT Practice Test

Which planetary feature is best associated with the term 'asteroid belt'?

1. A region of gas giants

2. A collection of small rocky objects located between Mars and Jupiter

3. A cluster of comets near the sun

4. A zone where moons orbit planets

The correct answer is: A collection of small rocky objects located between Mars and Jupiter

The term 'asteroid belt' is best associated with a collection of small rocky objects found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This region is significant in the study of planetary formation and the history of our solar system. It contains a vast number of asteroids, which are remnants from the early solar system that never coalesced into a planet due to the gravitational influence of nearby Jupiter. The asteroid belt is distinguished by its composition, primarily consisting of rock and metal, and its location, serving as a boundary between the inner terrestrial planets and the outer gas giants. The presence of this belt helps astronomers understand the dynamics of the solar system and provides insights into the materials that were available during the planet formation processes. The other options refer to different celestial phenomena and do not relate to the concept of the asteroid belt. For example, a region of gas giants pertains to the outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn, while a cluster of comets near the sun involves different bodies entirely, such as the Kuiper Belt or the Oort Cloud. Moons orbiting planets describes a distinct concept unrelated to the collection of rocky objects that characterize the asteroid belt.