Question

1. which of the following does not describe a characteristic of an asteroid? some asteroids have cores of iron and nickel. many asteroids contain carbon. some asteroids have a rocky core surrounded by ice. all asteroids exist in the asteroid belt.

Explanation:

• Analyze each option:
• Some asteroids do have iron - nickel cores (metallic asteroids), so this is a valid characteristic.
• Many asteroids (carbonaceous asteroids) contain carbon, so this is valid.
• Some asteroids (like those in the outer solar system - related regions) can have a rocky core surrounded by ice, so this is valid.
• Asteroids are not all confined to the asteroid belt. There are near - Earth asteroids, Trojan asteroids (near Jupiter's orbit), etc. So the statement "All asteroids exist in the asteroid belt" is incorrect.

Answer:

D. All asteroids exist in the asteroid belt