Our Earth and Moon Flashcards
Age of Earth
4.546 BY
What is the shape of Earth?
Oblate Spheroid
Equatorial Diameter of Earth
12,756 km
Polar Diameter of Earth
12,714 km
Mass of Earth
5.97 x 10^24 kg
Density of Earth
5.51 g/cm^3
What is the tallest mountain in Earth from base to peak?
Mauna Kea, Hawaii
What is the lowest point on land?
Dead Sea Shore
What is the deepest point in the Sea?
Challenger Deep, Pacific
What is the zone defined as the right location at the right time with the right planet (Earth)?
Goldilocks Zone/Scenario
What would happen to Earth if it was larger (more massive)?
(1) Force of Gravity would be proportionately greater, and
(2) Retained a thick, hostile atmosphere
What would happen if Earth was much smaller?
Oxygen, water vapor, and other volatiles would escape into the space.
Plate tectonics would not operate if Earth did not have a ___________ overlaying a __________.
RIGID LITHOSPHERE overlaying a WEAK ASTENOSPHERE
Earth could not support a magnetic field if it does not have a _________________.
Molten Metallic Core
What would Earth’s atmosphere consist of if we were 10% closer to the Sun?
Greenhouse Gas Carbon Dioxide
What would happen if Earth was 10% farther from the Sun?
It would be too cold–
(1) freezing oceans
(2) the water cycle would not exist.
What is the estimated life span of the Sun?
10 Billion Years
Two Earth-altering events
(1) The development of our modern atmosphere
(2) Mass extinction of the Dinosaurs
The mass extinction of dinosaurs allowed the development of __________ that occupy our modern world.
Large Mammals
What is the region of the Moon’s surface that is relatively low, smooth, and dark?
Maria
What is the composition of Maria?
Basaltic Composition
What is the region of the Moon’s surface that is densely cratered and rugged highlands?
Terrae
What is the composition of Terrae?
Anorthosites
What caused the craters on the Moon?
Impact of Meteorites
What do you call the vast plains of basaltic lava and other volcanic features on the Moon?
Lunar Basalts
The vast plains of basaltic lava in Lunar Maria extruded about how many years ago?
4.0 to 2.5 billion years ago
What are the major tectonic features on the Moon that were products of minor vertical movements?
(1) Mare ridges and
(2) Linear Rilles
What are the major types of Lunar Rocks that were igneous and impact origin?
(1) Anorthosite
(2) Basalt
(3) Breccia
(4) Glass
How thick is the Moon’s crust?
70km
How thick is the Moon’s Lithosphere?
1000km
This theory proposes that the Moon was once part of the Earth then somehow separated.
The Fission Theory
This theory proposes that the Moon was formed somewhere else in the solar system and was later captured by Earth’s gravitational field.
The Capture Theory
This theory proposes that the Moon and the Earth condensed individually from the Nebula, with the Moon forming in Earth’s orbit.
The Condensation Theory
The widely accepted theory on the formation of the Moon, wherein another planetary body with a mass of Mars collided with the young planet Earth.
The Theia Hypothesis
What is the name of the planetary body that collided with the young planet earth and eventually became the moon?
Theia
What was the name of the young planet Earth?
Geia
What is the moon’s orbit around the Earth?
Elliptical
The point of the moon’s orbit CLOSEST to Earth is called _________
Perigee
The point of the moon’s orbit FARTHEST from Earth is called _________
Apogee
What are the two factors that were significant to the formation of the Earth’s core?
(1) High-velocity impact of Nebular debris
(2) Decay of Radioactive elements
The crust formed from the buoyant masses of ____________ that rose toward the surface and solidified.
Molten Rock
The primitive crust was enriched in ________ and _________
(1) Oxygen
(2) “Oxygen-seeking” elements
