GED Science Practice

What characterizes a "Planetoid"?

1. a) Contains colorless watery fluid

2. b) Passage to the lungs and stomach

3. c) Synthesizes compounds in plants

4. d) Composed of rock and metal, moving around the sun

The correct answer is: d) Composed of rock and metal, moving around the sun

A planetoid, often referred to as a minor planet or an asteroid, is characterized by its composition and behavior in the solar system. Specifically, a planetoid is composed primarily of rock and metal, and it orbits the sun. This aligns perfectly with the definition and understanding of planetoids, which are similar to planets but smaller in size and lacking the necessary mass to be classified as full-fledged planets. The other choices, while they may refer to different scientific concepts, do not accurately describe a planetoid. For instance, the mention of a colorless watery fluid pertains more to states of matter or chemical solutions, and the passage to the lungs and stomach relates to human anatomy, neither of which has any connection to the characteristics of planetoids. Similarly, synthesizing compounds in plants refers to photosynthesis, a process entirely unrelated to the celestial nature of planetoids. Thus, the correct answer highlights the essential properties that define what a planetoid is within the context of astronomy.