Chapter 7

Question 1

What is the moons diameter

Answer 1

1/4th the earths

Question 2

How strong is the moons gravity

Answer 2

It is 1/6th the earths

Question 3

The surface of the moon is divided into two major regions

Answer 3

Highlands and Maria

Question 4

What are the moons highlands

Answer 4

They are bright rugged areas composed mainly of anorthosite and have craters

Question 5

What are the moons Maria region

Answer 5

Large, smooth, dark areas primarily composed of basalt

Question 6

What are the moons craters

Answer 6

They are circular sized rims that range from less than a centimeter to a few hundred kilometers

Question 7

What are the moons rays

Answer 7

They are long light streaks of pulverized rock

Question 8

What are the moons rilles

Answer 8

They are river like canyons

Question 9

What is the origin for the features on the moons surface

Answer 9

Intense bombardments by solar system bodies

Question 10

How did a Maria form

Answer 10

The impact from celestial bodies caused craters to form and molten material to flood the depression and solidify

Question 11

What is the interior of the moon like

Answer 11

A simplified inactive version of earths, crust->mantle->core

Question 12

What is the moons atmosphere like

Answer 12

There is none, this means it’s temperature changes are extreme

Question 13

What does synchronous rotation mean

Answer 13

It means the moon keeps the same side facing us while revolving

Question 14

Is the moons orbit tilted

Answer 14

Yes, by 5 degrees with respect to the ecliptic plane

Question 15

What are the three main theories on how the moon formed called

Answer 15

Capture theory, twin formation theory, and fission theory

Question 16

What is the capture theory

Answer 16

Essentially that the moon was a small planet orbiting the sun and earths gravitational field pulled it in and kept it

Question 17

What is the twin formation theory

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is the fission theory

Answer 18

It is the theory that the moon spun out of a very fast rotating earth during the early days of the solar system

Question 19

Are any of the three correct

Answer 19

Based on observations none of these hypotheses can explain the observations

Question 20

What is the new moon formation hypothesis

Answer 20

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

Question 21

How does the moon affect tides

Answer 21

It exerts a gravitational force on the ocean. The side closer to the moon experiences stronger tides

Question 22

What is the difference in force from one side of an object to the other called

Answer 22

It is called differential gravitational force

Question 23

What is a tidal bulge

Answer 23

It is the differential force on the side facing and opposite of the moon

Question 24

When do spring tides occur

Answer 24

When the sun and moon line up

Question 25

When do neap tides occur

Answer 25

When the moon is at first or third quarter