C4L2: Earth's Moon Flashcards
(5 cards)
1
Q
Define crater
A
Large, round pit caused by the impacts of meteoroids
2
Q
Define meteoroid
A
A chunk of rock or dust from space
3
Q
Why does the moon have so many craters?
A
The moon has so many craters because of its thin atmosphere, exposing it to impacts by meteorites.
4
Q
What are several characteristics of the moon?
A
The moon has no atmosphere, has very small amounts of water, has extreme weather that varies according to what side of the moon is facing the sun, and was formed (theoretically) by a massive object that collided with Earth, scattering rocky debris.
5
Q
Define maria
A
Dark, flat areas of hardened rock formed by huge lava flows from 3-4 billion years ago
