Answer: C) they are protoplanets with too little mass
Step-by-step explanation:
An asteroid is a small, rocky object that orbits the sun. It is usually found in the asteroid belt, a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, although some asteroids can be found in other locations as well.
Asteroids are believed to be protoplanets with too little mass to become planets. They are thought to be remnants from the early solar system, dating back to the time when the planets were forming. As the solar nebula collapsed, the leftover material started to clump together due to gravity, forming larger and larger objects. Some of these objects grew into planets, but others did not have enough mass to do so, and instead became asteroids.
Option A is incorrect because icy planetoids are different from asteroids. Icy planetoids are small, icy objects that orbit the sun beyond Neptune.
Option B is incorrect because while some asteroids may have originated from planetary collisions, not all of them did.
Option D is incorrect because debris from outer planets, such as Jupiter and Saturn, would not typically be found in the asteroid belt.
Therefore, the best description of an asteroid is that they are protoplanets with too little mass to become planets.