Jupiter has a very strong pull (called gravity). Its pull stopped the nearby space rocks from sticking together to make a planet. Because the rocks couldn’t join, they stayed as lots of pieces and became the asteroid belt.
Simple, child-friendly explanation for a 7-year-old: Jupiter’s strong pull kept nearby space rocks from sticking together, so they stayed separate and formed the asteroid belt.
Jupiter has a very strong pull (called gravity). Its pull stopped the nearby space rocks from sticking together to make a planet. Because the rocks couldn’t join, they stayed as lots of pieces and became the asteroid belt.