Final answer:
Asteroids reflect different percentages of light due to variations in composition, influenced by their origin in the solar system and subsequent events such as collisions. Studying the spectrum of light reflected from asteroids can give clues about their makeup.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asteroids reflect different percentages of light depending on their composition and classification. The surface materials of asteroids vary greatly; some are dark with low reflectivity, like coal, while others have higher reflectivity.
These differences are largely due to the different materials they are made of, which in turn is influenced by their origin in the solar system and the processes they have undergone.
For example, the various asteroid families, which are believed to have formed from the breakup of larger bodies or from collisions, often have members with similar compositions reflecting their common ancestry. Furthermore, the position in the solar system where an asteroid originated also plays a role.
Those formed farther from the Sun tend to have different compositions from those formed closer.
The spectrum of light reflected from an asteroid, which astronomers study, reveals clues about their specific materials, which causes the variation in light reflectivity. In essence, asteroids act as chemical fossils, giving us insights into the early solar system.