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Formation of Moon 6.3 (1)

The document discusses various theories regarding the formation of the Moon, focusing primarily on the impact or collision theory, which suggests the Moon formed from debris after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth. It presents evidence supporting this theory, such as the Moon's density and composition similarities with Earth, while also addressing contradictions, including the lack of molten surface evidence on Earth. The document concludes with a call for report writing on the topic.

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19 views

Formation of Moon 6.3 (1)

The document discusses various theories regarding the formation of the Moon, focusing primarily on the impact or collision theory, which suggests the Moon formed from debris after a Mars-sized object collided with Earth. It presents evidence supporting this theory, such as the Moon's density and composition similarities with Earth, while also addressing contradictions, including the lack of molten surface evidence on Earth. The document concludes with a call for report writing on the topic.

Uploaded by

mbilalusmani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sound &

Space
UNIT 6
Formation of
the Moon

CHAPTER 6.3
Learning Objective
9ESS.02 DESCRIBE THE EVIDENCE FOR THE COLLISION
THEORY FOR THE FORMATION OF THE MOON.
colder
collision Key
theory
hotter words
Warm Up!
 How did the planets form?
 From debris left over from the
formation of the Sun.
 Why is our Moon so
Think
unusual?
 Only two inner planets have
moons, our Moon is far larger than
the two moons that orbit Mars.
Where did the Moon
come from?

 There are many theories


as to how our planet's
satellite could have
been created: the
impact or collision
theory, the co-formation
theory the fission theory
and the capture theory.
 Capture- A large object wandered into
our early solar system and was captured
in the Earth’s gravitational field.
Capture
Theory  Problems: What could slow the object
down enough for the Earth to grab on to
it? Why does the Moon have a similar
composition?
That the Earth was spinning so
quickly that a bulge formed and
was thrown off to form the moon.

Fission  Problem – no evidence that the


Theory Earth was ever spinning that
fast. If it were, why did the moon
form where it is; not further
away?
Co-accretion or
Simultaneous Formation

Simultaneous Formation- The Moon


and Earth formed at the same time.

 Problems: The Earth is iron rich,


and the Moon isn’t.
 The moon is younger than the
Earth.
 The Impact Theory
of the moon’s
formation
Impact or  Earth’s moon formed
from a collision
Collision between the early
Theory Earth and a Mars-
sized object
Most accepted theory
today!
A newly formed planet, about the same size as
Mars, collided with the
newly formed Earth.
Scientists have called the colliding planet Theia.
The picture – drawn by
an artist – shows what the collision between Earth
(left) and Theia may
have looked like.
Collision
Theory The collision would have caused rocks and dust to
break away from
both planets. The theory states that Earth was
formed from the two
planets joined together. The Moon was formed
when the rocks and dust
was pulled together by gravity. These stages are
shown in this diagram:
EVIDENCE SUPPORTING COLLISION
 The Moon is less dense than the Earth.
 Samples of rock from the Moon show that its
surface was once molten.
 The Moon has a small iron core, similar to the Earth.
 There is evidence outside the Solar System of
similar collisions causing rings of rock and dust.
 The collision theory fi ts with the theory of how the
Solar System was formed.
 The composition of rocks on the Earth and the Moon
are the same
EVIDENCE CONTRADICTING COLLISION
 The surface of the Earth does not appear to ever
have been molten. A collision that formed the
Moon would have caused the surface of the Earth
to melt. The surface would have later solidified.
 Venus has no moon. Collisions in the early years
of the Solar System would have been common
and scientists would have expected Venus to
have a moon formed in the same way.
 The composition of rocks on the Moon would be
expected to be more similar to rocks on Theia
than rocks on Earth. In fact, the composition of
the Moon is more similar to Earth.
Learner’s book Questions Page: 227
Workbook
Page: 121
6.3 A
Group Task: Assignment!
REPORT WRITING

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