Chapter 7 Flashcards
What is the moons diameter
1/4th the earths
How strong is the moons gravity
It is 1/6th the earths
The surface of the moon is divided into two major regions
Highlands and Maria
What are the moons highlands
They are bright rugged areas composed mainly of anorthosite and have craters
What are the moons Maria region
Large, smooth, dark areas primarily composed of basalt
What are the moons craters
They are circular sized rims that range from less than a centimeter to a few hundred kilometers
What are the moons rays
They are long light streaks of pulverized rock
What are the moons rilles
They are river like canyons
What is the origin for the features on the moons surface
Intense bombardments by solar system bodies
How did a Maria form
The impact from celestial bodies caused craters to form and molten material to flood the depression and solidify
What is the interior of the moon like
A simplified inactive version of earths, crust->mantle->core
What is the moons atmosphere like
There is none, this means it’s temperature changes are extreme
What does synchronous rotation mean
It means the moon keeps the same side facing us while revolving
Is the moons orbit tilted
Yes, by 5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic plane
What are the three main theories on how the moon formed called
Capture theory, twin formation theory, and fission theory
What is the capture theory
Essentially that the moon was a small planet orbiting the sun and earths gravitational field pulled it in and kept it
What is the twin formation theory
It is the theory that the earth and moon started their formations together side by side from a common cloud of dust but earth developed more and that’s why they’re similar in structure
What is the fission theory
It is the theory that the moon spun out of a very fast rotating earth during the early days of the solar system
Are any of the three correct
Based on observations none of these hypotheses can explain the observations
What is the new moon formation hypothesis
It is called the large impact hypothesi, it states that something collided with a young forming earth and the debris that came out formed the moon
How does the moon affect tides
It exerts a gravitational force on the ocean. The side closer to the moon experiences stronger tides
What is the difference in force from one side of an object to the other called
It is called differential gravitational force
What is a tidal bulge
It is the differential force on the side facing and opposite of the moon
When do spring tides occur
When the sun and moon line up
When do neap tides occur
When the moon is at first or third quarter
