Question

The image above was taken by the Galileo spacecraft as it visited the asteroid belt on its way to Jupiter. Shown in the image are two rocky-iron bodies. The large object on the left is an asteroid named Ida. The object on the right, which measures only about 1 mile across, is named Dactyl.

Dactyl is a tiny moon that orbits the asteroid Ida. Dactyl orbits Ida due to
A.
the mutual gravitational attraction between the two objects.

B.
small differences in the objects' rocky-iron compositions.

C.
electrical energy transferred between the two objects.

D.
the magnetic force field that defines the asteroid belt.

Answer 1

Dactyl orbits Ida due to;

A. The mutual gravitational attraction between the two objects

Step-by-step explanation:

An orbit is the curved repeating and regular gravitational path of an object that moves round another planet. An object in an orbit moves with the orbital velocity required to bring about an equilibrium between the the mutual gravitational pull (attraction) from the body around which the object cycles and the object and the object's inertia to move in a straight line

Therefore, the moon Dactyl is able to orbit the asteroid Ida due to the force of gravitation between the Dactyl and Ida.