Clicker Quiz

Place the statements concerning lunar formation below inchronological order from the time of formation:

1 coalesced from orbiting debris 2 cooling of interior 3 mare formed 4 surface melting by heavy bombardment

a) 1, 4, 3, 2 b) 3, 2, 4, 1 c) 1, 2, 3, 4 d) 4, 3, 2, 1 e) 2, 3, 4, 1

Outstanding Questions about the moon

• Are there really large ice deposits at the lunarpoles?

• How much of the moon’s interior is molten?

• How large is the moon’s iron core?

• How old are the youngest lunar rocks?

• Could there still be active volcanos on themoon?

Mog Grading Scheme

Hypothesis 3ptsDescription of observations 4x3pts = 12ptsExplanation of observations 4x3pts = 12ptsProposed tests 3 ptsWriting clarity 3 pts

Total 33 pts

What is a hypothesis?

Hypothesis: A tentative explanation foran observation, phenomenon, orscientific problem that can be tested byfurther investigation

The planet Mog is round, rotating on its axis which istilted with respect to a light source to which it is attracted by a force that we will call gravity and around which itrevolves.

What is an appropriate test of thishypothesis?

Clicker Question

The Jovian planets have a lower average density thanthe terrestrial planets because

a) Their larger masses imply a large gravitational forcewhich compresses material in their cores

b) Their larger masses mean that they were able to holdonto the light elements, hydrogen and helium

c) They are made primarily of water with small amountsof rock in their cores

d) More of their mass is concentrated in their satellites

Clicker Question

How is the composition of a planet or moon determined?

a) A spectrum of the visible light emitted by the planet ormoon can be analyzed for the elements it contains

b) A spectrum of the visible light reflected off the surfaceor atmosphere of the planet can be analyzed for theelements it contains

c) Samples of the planet can be returned to Earth foranalysis in a laboratory