A Pedagogical Approximation to the Problem of the Structure of the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter

Abstract. The study of the many body problem associated to the dynamics of the different elements of our Solar System is a complex subject for introductory level Physics students. But building and using computer simulations allows the students to be introduced to this subject. Here we present a study of the dynamical structure of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. First we considered only the simpler problem of a fictitious negligible mass asteroid in the gravity field of a Star and a big Planet (Sun and Jupiter, for instance); then, the inclusion of inner and external planets (Mars and Saturn) allows the reproduction of the more realistic situation found in our Solar System. The orbits of several hundreds of asteroids are integrated numerically and the periods and other characteristics of stable orbits are obtained. Our results reproduce many of the Kirkwood gaps, observed in the main belt asteroids, associated to the different non linear resonances there found