JLora_HW5
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School
Brooklyn College, CUNY *
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Course
101
Subject
Geology
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
1
Uploaded by MateCrowMaster747
Johanna Lora
Professor Ris
AST 101
03.13.2022
Problem Set:
5. Outline the main events in the Moon’s geological history.
More than four billion years ago the moon formed, silicates cooled first and made
up most of the Moon’s crust; 83% of the crust is made of silicate rock called
anorthosites, which made highlands. This surface was exposed to impact from
interplanetary debris early in the Moon's history. Billions of years ago, volcanic
eruptions released large amounts of lava that flowed over the surface filling in
large depressions called impact basins and forming the darker maria we see
today.
8. With no wind or water erosion of rocks, what is the mechanism for the creation of the lunar
“soil?”
The occurring catering events break up the rocks and scatter the fragments over the
surface have created lunar "soil." Billions of years of impacts have occurred to cover much
of the surface with particles the size of dust or sand.
13. Summarize the four main hypotheses for the origin of the Moon.
The fission hypothesis suggests that the Moon was once part of Earth but separated early
in its history. The sister hypothesis suggests that the Moon formed together with, but
independent of, Earth. The capture hypothesis suggests that the Moon formed somewhere
else in the solar system and was captured by Earth. The giant impact hypothesis suggests
that an object about the size of Mars struck Earth, emitting material from Earth and the
object itself,
forming the Moon.
18. What is the relationship between Mercury’s rational period and orbital period?
Mercury's rotation is 59 days long, while the orbit is 88 days long. That is a ratio of 2:3.
This means that three Mercury days equals two Mercury years.
20. What do our current ideas about the origins of the Moon and Mercury have in common? How
do they differ?
Both planets experienced frequent and sometimes intense impacts in their histories, with
heavily cratered surfaces visible on each. They also have no atmosphere. However, Mercury
has a much larger metalcore and long scarps on its surface due to the compression of its
crust during the billions of years. Also, Mercury has lost part of its silicate mantle, most
likely because of giant impacts.
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