What distinguishes a dwarf planet from a full planet?

Dwarf planets are classified distinctly from full planets primarily due to their inability to clear their orbit. This means that while they are large enough to be rounded by their own gravity, they do not have sufficient gravitational influence to either dominate their orbital zone or to clear out other debris and smaller celestial bodies within that zone.

In contrast, full planets have the gravitational strength to influence nearby objects and maintain a clear path in their orbit around the sun. The defining characteristic that places a celestial body in the category of dwarf planet is this inability to clear its orbital neighborhood while still being in orbit around the sun and achieving hydrostatic equilibrium, which gives them their rounded shape.

Understanding this distinction emphasizes the importance of orbital dynamics and gravitational dominance in planetary classification, which is a central aspect of planetary science.