Questions below are based on the following information. The Moon has many influences on humankind, including physical effects on the Earth itself and societal effects on humans. The Moon is responsible for the changing tides of the ocean and has been studied for thousands of years by astronomers. Lunar cycles have a significant impact on human society, serving as the origin of the current month system. Two scientists speculate about the formation of the Moon as discussed below. Scientist 1 The Moon formed as a result of a giant body impacting the Earth. This collision occurred... Show more Questions below are based on the following information. The Moon has many influences on humankind, including physical effects on the Earth itself and societal effects on humans. The Moon is responsible for the changing tides of the ocean and has been studied for thousands of years by astronomers. Lunar cycles have a significant impact on human society, serving as the origin of the current month system. Two scientists speculate about the formation of the Moon as discussed below. Scientist 1 The Moon formed as a result of a giant body impacting the Earth. This collision occurred after the Earth was formed, meaning that the Moon is younger than the Earth. The body that impacted the Earth was roughly the size of Mars, which is slightly more than half the size of the Earth. The impact resulted in a great deal of matter being ejected from the Earth and forming a large cloud of debris near the Earth. Gravitational forces caused this cloud to slowly solidify into a spherical shape, creating the Moon. The Moon’s angular momentum and orbit around the Earth are a result of the swirling of the debris originally caused by the giant impact. The composition of the Moon is very similar to that of the Earth’s crust and mantle, or outer layer. The Moon has much less iron than the Earth, suggesting that most of the core of the Earth was not ejected, and the majority of the material which makes up the Moon comes from the outer portions of the Earth, as well as the outer portions of the giant impacting body. Scientist 2 The Moon and the Earth formed at roughly the same time, both originating from the same cloud of gas and dust. The two bodies drew material to themselves as a result of gravitational forces. During the beginning stages of their formation, the Earth and Moon were flat discs orbiting around each other, but as time progressed, they slowly coalesced into their present spherical shapes. The large craters present on the Moon’s surface demonstrate that it is very old and was formed around the same time as the Earth. Though the Earth’s thick atmosphere protects it from small impacts, the Moon’s atmosphere is thin and provides little shielding from asteroids. The Moon’s current orbit around the Earth is a result of the swirling dust and gases that were the basis for both bodies. The Moon and Earth have been locked into their existing orbital patterns since their formation, explaining the regularity of lunar cycles seen today. Many of the elements found on the Earth are found also on the Moon, suggesting that they formed from some of the same matter. The differences in composition are explained by the fact that the swirling cloud of gas and dust from which the Moon and Earth were formed was not entirely homogeneous. Show less
Questions below are based on the following information.
The Moon has many influences on humankind, including physical effects on the Earth itself and societal effects on humans. The Moon is responsible for the changing tides of the ocean and has been studied for thousands of years by astronomers. Lunar cycles have a significant impact on human society, serving as the origin of the current month system.
Two scientists speculate about the formation of the Moon as discussed below.
Scientist 1 The Moon formed as a result of a giant body impacting the Earth. This collision occurred after the Earth was formed, meaning that the Moon is younger than the Earth. The body that impacted the Earth was roughly the size of Mars, which is slightly more than half the size of the Earth. The impact resulted in a great deal of matter being ejected from the Earth and forming a large cloud of debris near the Earth. Gravitational forces caused this cloud to slowly solidify into a spherical shape, creating the Moon.
The Moon’s angular momentum and orbit around the Earth are a result of the swirling of the debris originally caused by the giant impact. The composition of the Moon is very similar to that of the Earth’s crust and mantle, or outer layer. The Moon has much less iron than the Earth, suggesting that most of the core of the Earth was not ejected, and the majority of the material which makes up the Moon comes from the outer portions of the Earth, as well as the outer portions of the giant impacting body.
Scientist 2 The Moon and the Earth formed at roughly the same time, both originating from the same cloud of gas and dust. The two bodies drew material to themselves as a result of gravitational forces. During the beginning stages of their formation, the Earth and Moon were flat discs orbiting around each other, but as time progressed, they slowly coalesced into their present spherical shapes. The large craters present on the Moon’s surface demonstrate that it is very old and was formed around the same time as the Earth. Though the Earth’s thick atmosphere protects it from small impacts, the Moon’s atmosphere is thin and provides little shielding from asteroids.
The Moon’s current orbit around the Earth is a result of the swirling dust and gases that were the basis for both bodies. The Moon and Earth have been locked into their existing orbital patterns since their formation, explaining the regularity of lunar cycles seen today. Many of the elements found on the Earth are found also on the Moon, suggesting that they formed from some of the same matter. The differences in composition are explained by the fact that the swirling cloud of gas and dust from which the Moon and Earth were formed was not entirely homogeneous.
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