Moon Quiz 2: Chapters 2-3 Flashcards
accretion
a growth of the earth and its moon from dust and gas occurring side by side in space
Roche limit
breakup of a moon occurs within about 2.44 planetary radii of its host planet
albedo
name given to the average reflectivity of the moon
vernal equinox
the first day of spring, around March 20-22
ex nihilio
from no previously existing matter (literally, out of nothing)
What are three popular older theories about the origin of the moon?
fission or splitting off of material from earth; capture of an external moon by the earth’s gravity; condensation of nebulous gas and dust at the same time
What is the fission theory, and what is Charles Darwin’s connection to it?
A theory that the earth was once molten and spinning rapidly, a growing tidal bulge was occurring because of the sun that was eventually thrown or fissioned from the earth to form the moon, one of Charles Darwin’s son was a champion of this idea.
Explain the capture theory and problems with the theory explaining the origin of the moon
A wandering moon passed too close to earth and it was captured in the earth’s gravitation; it isn’t really explaining the origin of the moon if the moon arrived intact; no explanation for the slowing of the moon to enter a permanent earth orbit; no other moons have been observed originating in this way; the high circular orbit of the moon is not the orbit it would have to be if this theory explained the moon’s origins.
Explain what the collision theory means.
A chance collision occurred billions of years ago when an object the size of Mars hit the earth, partially melting both and throwing debris.
What are the main problems with the collision theory?
the questions of how a ring of debris would form the moon; the Roche limit; and the low probability of celestial objects colliding; How does this explain the dozens of other moons in the solar system?
Due to tidal effects, which way is the moon spiraling in relation to the earth - inward or outward?
it spirals slowly outward
How does the Roche limit and the increasing distance between the earth and the moon impact the possible age of the earth?
Knowing the moon moves one to two inches away from earth each year shows that if the moon had formed billion of years ago, it would have broken up because of how close it would have been to the earth.
What are four solid arguments for the biblical creation occurring as set forth in Genesis?
yom, evening and morning, clear designation of work and rest days, linking of word “days” with the word “years”
What is the age of the moon according to secular scientists?
4.6 billion years
How do secular scientists calculate the age?
based on radiosotope studies of moon rocks and meteorites
What is the half-life (secular dating of billions of years of Carbon 14? of Uranium 235?
5,730 years; 0.704 billion years
Why are certain kinds of atoms unstable or radioactive?
Usually because of an excess number of neutrons in their atomic nucleus
How is dating by using Carbon 14 different than the other parent elements?
It is limited to a much shorter time scale than other isotopes.
What assumptions are made when it comes to radioisotope dating?
What the original composition of the sample was and not knowing what changes may have occurred over the history of the sample.
Why does the moon have an ever-growing layer of dust on its surface?
There are no weather elements to move the dust around.
The word “influx” refers to what?
the rate of dust on the moon
What are some examples of TLPs?
local color changes, glowing clouds, bright spots, streaks of light, hazes, mists, and even measurable quake activity
What three lunar craters have been the sites of numerous TLPs?
Aristarchus, Plato, and Alphonsus
Why are there still astronaut footprints on the moon?
no liquids or wind exist there to erode the footprints
