What key compositional element differentiates KBOs from the rockier objects in the Asteroid Belt?
Answer
KBOs possess a high ice content, preserving volatile compounds like frozen water, methane, and ammonia.
The objects residing in the Kuiper Belt, known as KBOs, are fundamentally different from the rocky inhabitants of the inner solar system, such as those found in the Asteroid Belt, due to their composition. Because they exist at extremely low temperatures, hundreds of degrees below freezing, volatile compounds that would have evaporated closer to the Sun are preserved in a frozen state. A typical KBO's makeup is a mixture of rock and substantial amounts of various ices, specifically noted as frozen water, methane, and ammonia, making their icy nature a defining characteristic.
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