In our solar system, the inter-planetary region has chunks of matter (much smaller in size compared to planets) called asteroids. They
Correct Answer :
will move in orbits like planets and obey Kepler’s laws
Solution :
The correct option is: will move in orbits like planets and obey Kepler’s laws
Step-by-step Explanation:
1. Asteroids are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Although they are much smaller than planets, they are still celestial bodies orbiting the Sun.
2. According to Newton's law of universal gravitation, any two masses exert a gravitational force on each other. The motion of any object in the solar system, regardless of its mass, is primarily governed by the gravitational pull of the massive Sun.
3. The gravitational force between the Sun (mass ) and an asteroid (mass ) at a distance is given by:
This central force dictates the orbital path of the asteroid.
4. Since the gravitational force is a central, inverse-square force, any object orbiting the Sun under its influence will follow a trajectory described by Kepler's laws of planetary motion, regardless of the object's mass (as long as ). Therefore, asteroids move in elliptical orbits around the Sun with the Sun at one of the foci, sweep out equal areas in equal intervals of time, and the square of their orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of their orbit.
5. Consequently, asteroids behave dynamically just like planets, moving in stable orbits and strictly obeying Kepler's laws.
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