Origin of the Moon Flashcards
1
Q
What is the Giant Impact Hypothesis?
A
The theory that a large body about the same size as Mars, known as Theia, stuck a glancing blow with a nascent Earth. Theia was vaporised along with part of the Earth, and the debris slowly cooled and condensed to form the Moon
2
Q
What is the Fission Theory?
A
The theory that a part of the Earth (now filles by the Pacific Ocean) spun off because the Earth was spinning so fast, forming the moon
3
Q
What is the Capture Theory?
A
The Earth and the Moon were formed at different places in the Solar System and the Moon was ‘captured’ by the Earth’s gravitational force
4
Q
What is the Condensation (Co-accretion) theory?
A
The Earth and Moon formed together at the same time out of material from the solar nebula
