Dropped forks are simply blocks that are no longer part of the main blockchain. This can happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common is when a fork (or chain split) occurs and one chain becomes longer than the other. The shorter chain will eventually be dropped by the network as it becomes invalid.
Other related questions:
Q: How does a blockchain correct for accidental forks?
A: There are a few ways to correct for accidental forks:
1. Use a PoW algorithm – this ensures that the longest chain is the correct one as it would be the most expensive one to create.
2. Use a PoS algorithm – this ensures that the correct chain is the one with the most support from stakeholders.
3. Use a mix of both PoW and PoS – this provides the most security as it would be very expensive and difficult to fork the chain.
Q: What happens to transactions in orphaned blocks?
A: Transactions in orphaned blocks are not included in the blockchain and are not considered confirmed.
Q: What happens to my Bitcoin in a hard fork?
A: In the event of a hard fork, your Bitcoin will remain safe. However, if you want to access the new features or tokens created by the hard fork, you will need to create a new wallet.
Q: What happens when a blockchain splits?
A: When a blockchain splits, or forks, two separate blockchain networks are created. Each network contains its own copy of the blockchain data, and each network can process transactions independently of the other.