Collisions and Craters in the Solar System

The Earth-Moon system was most likely formed by the impact of the early Earth with another planet. True or False?

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-6

Craters are the most common surface features on many solid planets and moons. Which of the following has the least amount of visible craters?

• Earth

• The Moon

• Mercury

• Jupiter

The circular shape of craters is due to...

• the meteorite having a circular shape

• material flying out in all directions as a result of the explosion upon meteorite impact.

• the gravitational pull of the sun

• radiometric dating

Fill in the blank: Currently, no known asteroids are predicted to ______ with our world.

• Collide

• Orbit

• Pass

• Evaporate

What has caused Earth to have fewer visible impact craters compared to the Moon, Mercury, and Mars? (choose all that apply)

• The Moon is older

• Plate Tectonic Activity

• Weather that causes erosion

• Earth is younger

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

What is the main reason older surfaces have more impact craters?

• They have been exposed to impacting bodies for a longer period.

• They are closer to the Sun.

• They have more volcanic activity.

• They are made of softer material.

Fill in the blank: The Moon's surface is more than ______ years old.

• 200 million

• 500 million

• 1 billion

• 3 billion

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

What makes impact craters on Earth harder to recognize?

• Lack of atmosphere

• Weathering and erosion

• Recent volcanic activity

• Large size

The moon’s surface has many more craters than the Earth’s. What best explains the difference in the number of craters on the surface of the Moon and the Earth?

• The Moon rarely gets impacted by meteorites.
• The Earth’s atmosphere protects it from impacts.
• The Moon’s gravity attracts more meteorites than Earth's.
• The Earth rotates on its axis more quickly than the Moon.

Organize these options into the right categories

Groups:

(a) Solid bodies with older surfaces

,

(b) Solid bodies with younger surface

• Mercury

• The Moon

• Weathering and Erosion

• Venus

• Earth

• Thicker atmosphere

• Little or no Atmosphere

• More Impact Craters

• Smaller Impact Craters

• Plate Tectonic Activity

• Mars

• Fewer Impact Craters

• Larger Impact Craters