11/29/2016 Tuesday

Science Log 7 Tuesday, November 29: How do you think the Moon got where it is?

10. Quick draw Make sure you include objects that are within the solar system, such as planets, moons, comets, asteroids, meteors, Oort cloud and the Sun Do not include objects and systems that are beyond the limits of the solar system, such as, stars (except the Sun), galaxies, nebulae, black holes, and constellations.

11. Origin of the Moon Earth has an exceptionally large satellite, the Moon. Just how we came to have such a grand satellite has been a topic of scientific discussion for a long time. Over the years, four theories were proposed. They are known as, Capture theory, Daughter theory, Big Impact theory, and Sisters theory.

12. Four Moon-Origin theories Origin of the Moon On page 84-85 make a drawing of each of the 4 origins labeling each one Scientist who support the Capture theory think that soon after Earth formed, a large planetesimal flew close to Earth. Earth’s gravity captured the planetesimal and pulled it into orbit. The orbit stabilized and the planetesimal assumed its position, orbiting Earth ever since.

12. Four Moon-Origin theories Origin of the Moon On page 85 make a drawing of each of the 4 origins labeling each one Daughter theory Scientists who support the daughter theory think that early Earth was rotating so fast that it “gave birth” to the Moon. A large piece of Earth bulged out and then separated, ending up in orbit.

12. Four Moon-Origin theories Origin of the Moon On page 85 make a drawing of each of the 4 origins labeling each one Big Impact theory Scientists who support this think that soon after Earth formed, a large planetesimal crashed into Earth. The impact destroyed the planetesimal. The rubble produced by the impact flew up and started to orbit Earth. After a short time, the orbiting matter accreted and formed the Moon. They say this is how the Moon formed.

12. Four Moon-Origin theories Origin of the Moon On page 85 make a drawing of each of the 4 origins labeling each one Sisters theory Scientists who support this theory think that the dust and gas in the Earth region of the solar system collected into two separate masses, Earth and the Moon. The sisters, Earth and Moon, formed in the same way at the same time, with the Moon orbiting Earth.

13. Analyze the Moon-origin theories Discuss in your groups the merits of each theory. Select the theory you agree is most credible; Build a case (rationale) for your selection, and; Write a list of arguments to support your selection and a list of arguments that refute the other theories, and then record them in your notebooks. Save room to add to your information

14. Reading “How Earth Got and Held onto its Moon” In recent years, lunar scientists have acquired additional data about the Moon that favors one of the theories. Today, there is general agreement about the sequence of events that resulted in Earth’s Moon. That story is recounted in a short article in your resource book. As we read the article, think about how your thinking compares to the modern theory.

15. Reading What are some other ways that we’ve learned that gravity explains the behavior of objects in space?

15. Reading What are some other ways that we’ve learned that gravity explains the behavior of objects in space? Galaxies attract one another and group in clusters; planets cleared their orbits; galaxies are held together by the gravity of their stars; the solar system formed when planets accreted around the Sun; Earth orbits the Sun. Revise your sequence of events if needed

16. Tides Tides In the article, we learned about how gravity rules. Gravity is such a powerful force that the Moon’s gravity affects our ocean, causing tides.

18. Vocab 7.2 Make sure that these are on your vocab page and index Accretion: sticking together Nebula: (plural nebulae) a cloud of gas and dust in space between stars. Notes: (under vocab) The cosmos can be categorized into our local neighborhood (solar system), our larger local area (galaxy), and everything beyond (universe) The astronomical unit (AU) is used to measure the distance of relatively close objects in space, such as those within the solar system. Light-year (ly) is a unit that indicates a much greater distance, such as objects outside the solar system. The solar system formed from a cloud of dust (nebula) that accreted into various objects organized around the Sun.

Extension Simulating solar system