Earth/Space Science | Chpt 14 - Sun and Moon
What is a "gravity lock"?
A "gravity lock" causes the moon to show only one side to the Earth due to Earth's gravity.
True or False. The Earth rotates to the North, which cause the moon to rise and set as the Earth spins.
False. The Earth rotates to the East, which cause the moon to rise and set as the Earth spins.
True or false: the giant impact hypothesis is not the favored scientific hypothesis for the formation of the Moon.
False. The giant impact hypothesis is the favored scientific hypothesis for the formation of the Moon.
True or false: the moon progressively rises and sets later the next day. It moves farther northward in the sky the next day.
False. The moon is revolving in the same direction so it progressively rises and sets later the next day. It moves farther eastward in the sky the next day.
How far away is the moon from Earth?
It is 240,000 miles away
How long does it take the moon to do a 360° revolution?
It takes 27.3 days.
What kinds of evidence supports the giant impact hypothesis?
Supporting evidence includes the same direction of motion of the Earth's spin and the Moon's orbit, Moon samples that indicate the surface of the Moon was once molten, the Moon's relatively small iron core and lower density than the Earth, and evidence of similar collisions in other star systems.
What is the giant impact hypothesis?
The giant impact hypothesis states that the Moon was created out of the debris left over from a collision between the Earth and a Mars-sized body (Theia), around 4.5 Ga.
What type of atmosphere does the moon have?
The moon has no atmosphere. It doesn't have enough gravity to hold an atmosphere.
How old is the moon?
The moon is the same age as the Earth.
How long does it take the moon to revolve around the Earth?
The moon revolves around the Earth in a little less than a month. It rotates only as it revolves.
What causes the phases of the moon?
Think about which side of the Moon is lit —always the half facing the Sun. But, think about which half of the moon is seen from the Earth. Different amounts of the lit half are seen throughout the lunar month —this causes the phases of the moon.
True or false: The moon and Sun control the tides, but the moon has a much larger effect
True
What does it mean when the moon is waning?
When the moon is waning (getting smaller), the left half is lit.
What does it mean when the moon is "waxing"?
When the moon is waxing (phase size increasing), the right half is lit.
What is a "sidereal month"?
When the moon travels 360° around the earth, one complete revolution.
