MCQ Detailed View

The Kuiper Belt is a region of the solar system located beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is home to many icy bodies and dwarf planets, which are remnants from the early stages of planetary formation. Among these objects, some are classified as plutoids. The term "plutoid" is used to describe dwarf planets that orbit the Sun at a greater average distance than Neptune and have enough mass for their gravity to make them nearly spherical, but they have not cleared their orbital path of other debris.

Examples of recognized plutoids include:

1. 
   

   Pluto – Once considered the ninth planet of the solar system, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). It is the largest known object in the Kuiper Belt and serves as the primary example of a plutoid.

   
   


2. 
   

   Eris – Another large dwarf planet discovered in the Kuiper Belt, Eris is slightly smaller than Pluto but more massive. Its discovery was one of the main reasons astronomers redefined the term “planet.”

   
   


3. 
   

   Ceres – Originally classified as an asteroid, Ceres is now recognized as a dwarf planet. While it is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the IAU has included it in the plutoid list due to its similar characteristics, although some classifications debate this because plutoids are typically beyond Neptune.

   
   

These plutoids are key objects for understanding the structure of the solar system and the composition of small, icy celestial bodies. They provide evidence of how planets and dwarf planets formed billions of years ago. Studying plutoids also helps scientists learn about the history of planetary migration and how gravitational interactions shaped the outer solar system.

The correct answer to this MCQ is Pluto, Eris, and Ceres, as they are recognized as dwarf planets, with Pluto and Eris being Kuiper Belt objects, and Ceres often included in dwarf planet classifications due to its similar properties.