Consider the following statements regarding asteroids: Asteroids are rocky debris of varying size orbiting the sun Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large as 1000 km The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn of these statements:

Q 18 / 21

UPSC CSE Prelims 1998

Consider the following statements regarding asteroids:

Asteroids are rocky debris of varying size orbiting the sun
Most of the asteroids are small but some have diameter as large as 1000 km
The orbit of asteroids lies between the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn of these statements:

EXPLANATION

Correct Option

Statement 1: Asteroids are rocky debris of varying sizes that orbit the Sun, primarily located in the main asteroid belt. They are considered remnants from the early stages of solar system formation.

Statement 2: While most asteroids are relatively small, some significant objects, such as Ceres (now classified as a dwarf planet), possess diameters approaching 1000 km, validating the statement regarding their size range.

Incorrect Options

Statement 3 is incorrect. The main asteroid belt, which hosts the majority of asteroids, is situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, not between Jupiter and Saturn.

Option (a) is incorrect because Statement 3 is factually inaccurate.
Option (b) is incorrect as it includes the erroneous Statement 3.
Option (d) is incorrect as it also includes the factually incorrect Statement 3.

SOURCENCERT Class 6 Geography Chapter 1: The Earth in the Solar System