Earth’s Moon

Earth’s Moon

Ch 1 L 6 p. 32-35

What is the Moon Like?

• Galileo Galilei’s observations in the early 1600s were some of the first to show details on the moon’s surface.

• Scientists have since learned more about the moon’s features.

What is the Moon Like?

• The moon is dry and airless and has in irregular surface.

• Compared to Earth, the moon is small and has large variations in its surface temperature.

Multiple Select

The moon is _____ and ________ and has in irregular surface.

• dry

• airless

• arid

Multiple Select

Compared to Earth, the moon is __________ and has large variations in its surface ______________.

• small

• temperature

• large

• area

What is the Moon Like?

• The moon has many unusual structures.

• Dark, flat areas called Maria are hardened rock formed from huge lava flows that occurred 3-4 billion years go.

• The singular form of maria is mare.

• Large round pits called craters can be hundreds of km across.

Multiple Choice

Dark, flat areas called ________ are hardened rock formed from huge lava flows that occurred 3-4 billion years go.

• Maria

• Craters

• Holes

Multiple Choice

Large round pits called _________ can be hundreds of km across.

• Maria

• Craters

• Holes

What is the Moon Like?

• The moon’s craters were caused by the impacts of meteoroids, chunks of rock or dust from space.

• Some of the light-colored features you can see on the moon’s surface are highlands, or mountains.

• Highlands cover most of the moon’s surface.

Multiple Choice

Some of the light-colored features you can see on the moon’s surface are ____________, or mountains.

• highland

• lowlands

• canyons

What is the Moon Like?

• The moon is smaller and less dense than Earth.

• It’s diameter is about one fourth of Earth’s diameter.

• It has only one eightieth as much mass as Earth.

Multiple Select

The moon is ________ and _____ dense than Earth.

• smaller

• less

• more

• larger

What is the Moon Like?

• Temperatures on the moon vary greatly because the moon does not have an atmosphere.

• The moon’s surface gravity is so weak that gases can easily escape into space.

• The moon has no liquid water.

• However, there may be patches of ice near the moon’s poles.

Multiple Choice

Why does the moon vary in temperature?

• The moon doesn't have an atmosphere

• The moon does have an atmosphere

• The moon doesn't have an breathable oxygen

Multiple Choice

Why can gases easily escape the moon?

• Surface gravity is weak

• Surface gravity is strong

What is the Moon Like?

• Scientists have suggested many possible theories for how the moon formed.

• The collision-ring theory seems best to fit the evidence.

• This theory holds that a planet-sized rocky object collided with Earth to form the moon.

Multiple Choice

What theory holds that a planet-sized rocky object collided with Earth to form the moon?

• collision-ring theory

• ring-collision theory

What is the Moon Like?

• Materials from the object and Earth’s outer layers was ejected into object around Earth, where it formed a ring.

• Gravity caused this material to clump together to form the moon.

Review Questions

Time to see what you have learned!

Multiple Select

The moon is _____ and ________ and has in irregular surface.

• dry

• airless

• arid

Multiple Select

Compared to Earth, the moon is __________ and has large variations in its surface ______________.

• small

• temperature

• large

• area

Multiple Choice

Dark, flat areas called ________ are hardened rock formed from huge lava flows that occurred 3-4 billion years go.

• Maria

• Craters

• Holes

Multiple Choice

Large round pits called _________ can be hundreds of km across.

• Maria

• Craters

• Holes

Multiple Choice

Some of the light-colored features you can see on the moon’s surface are ____________, or mountains.

• highland

• lowlands

• canyons

Multiple Select

The moon is ________ and _____ dense than Earth.

• smaller

• less

• more

• larger

Multiple Choice

Why does the moon vary in temperature?

• The moon doesn't have an atmosphere

• The moon does have an atmosphere

• The moon doesn't have an breathable oxygen

Multiple Choice

Why can gases easily escape the moon?

• Surface gravity is weak

• Surface gravity is strong

Multiple Choice

What theory holds that a planet-sized rocky object collided with Earth to form the moon?

• collision-ring theory

• ring-collision theory