Question
1.6 Moon's Formation 9. What is the accepted theory of moon formation?Explain it. 10. What evidence do we have that indicates the moon came from the Earth? 11. Why does the moon have less iron than the Earth?
Answer
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Joey
Master · Tutor for 5 years
Answer
1. The accepted theory of Moon formation is the Giant Impact Hypothesis.2. Evidence indicating the Moon came from the Earth includes isotopic similarities, geological evidence from Moon rocks, and orbital dynamics.3. The Moon has less iron than the Earth because it was formed from the outer layers of the Earth and Theia, which were less iron-rich.
Explanation
The accepted theory of the Moon's formation is the Giant Impact Hypothesis. This theory suggests that the Moon was formed from the debris resulting from a collision between the early Earth and a Mars-sized body named Theia. This hypothesis is supported by several lines of evidence:1. Similarities in isotopic compositions of Earth and Moon rocks indicate a common origin.2. The Moon's lower density and smaller iron core compared to Earth suggest it was formed from the outer layers of the Earth and Theia, which had less iron.3. Computer simulations of such an impact produce a Moon with characteristics similar to our Moon.Evidence supporting the Moon's origin from Earth includes:1. Isotopic similarities: The isotopic signatures of oxygen, silicon, and other elements are almost identical in both Earth and Moon rocks.2. Geological evidence: Moon rocks brought back by the Apollo missions show similarities to Earth's mantle material.3. Orbital dynamics: The Moon's orbit and its angular momentum are consistent with a giant impact scenario.The Moon has less iron than the Earth because the material that formed the Moon primarily came from the outer layers of the Earth and Theia, which were less iron-rich. The core of Theia, which contained more iron, likely merged with Earth's core during the collision, leaving the Moon with less iron content.