Question
Question A. The asteroids in each Trojan asteroid group are all within relatively close proximity of each other. Which best explains why the asteroids in these groups are not pulled together by their gravitational attraction to each other?
The asteroids are pushed apart from each other by their gravitational force, not pulled together by their gravitational attraction.
The asteroids are more strongly influenced by the gravitational pulls of Jupiter and the Sun, the largest objects in the solar system.
The asteroids are more strongly influenced by the gravitational pull of the asteroids in the Main belt, farther away in the solar system.
The asteroids are pulled together by their gravitational attraction, but the attraction weakens as the asteroids get closer to each other.
The asteroids are pushed apart from each other by their gravitational force, not pulled together by their gravitational attraction.
The asteroids are more strongly influenced by the gravitational pulls of Jupiter and the Sun, the largest objects in the solar system.
The asteroids are more strongly influenced by the gravitational pull of the asteroids in the Main belt, farther away in the solar system.
The asteroids are pulled together by their gravitational attraction, but the attraction weakens as the asteroids get closer to each other.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
Answer: The asteroids are more strongly influenced by the gravitational pulls of Jupiter and the Sun, the largest objects in the solar system.
Explanation: The mutual gravity between individual Trojans is tiny compared with the combined gravity (and orbital dynamics) of the Sun–Jupiter system at the Lagrange points, so the group remains spread out rather than coalescing.
Explanation: The mutual gravity between individual Trojans is tiny compared with the combined gravity (and orbital dynamics) of the Sun–Jupiter system at the Lagrange points, so the group remains spread out rather than coalescing.