Final answer:
Asteroids in the asteroid belt orbit between Mars and Jupiter, whereas Earth-approaching asteroids have orbits that bring them close to or intersect with Earth's orbit, posing potential collision risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between asteroids of the asteroid belt and Earth-approaching asteroids is their orbital path in relation to Earth. Asteroids in the main asteroid belt are located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where they mostly orbit the sun without posing any threat of collision with Earth. On the other hand, Earth-approaching asteroids have orbits that bring them near to, or intersect with, Earth’s orbit, which can potentially lead to catastrophic collisions. Earth-approaching asteroids are of significant interest due to the potential impact risk they pose, while asteroid belt objects are usually of scientific interest for the clues they provide about the solar system's history.