How the Moon Formed - ScienceKid.org

The Moon did not simply appear next to Earth — it was born from one of the most violent events in the history of the solar system. Discover the Giant Impact Hypothesis and how our Moon came to be.

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Q1 Question 1 of 10

What is the leading scientific explanation for how the Moon formed?

The Moon formed from the same cloud of gas and dust as Earth, but further out A Mars-sized body collided with early Earth, and the ejected material coalesced into the Moon Earth's gravity captured a wandering asteroid from the asteroid belt The Moon broke off from Earth when Earth was spinning very fast

Q2 Question 2 of 10

What name do scientists give to the Mars-sized body that collided with early Earth?

Titan Selene Theia Ceres

Q3 Question 3 of 10

Approximately how long ago did the Moon form?

About 65 million years ago About 500 million years ago About 4.5 billion years ago About 13.8 billion years ago

Q4 Question 4 of 10

What was the Moon's surface like shortly after it formed?

Covered in liquid water oceans A frozen ice ball Covered in a global ocean of molten rock called a magma ocean Already covered in craters exactly as we see today

Q5 Question 5 of 10

How does the Moon's diameter compare to Earth's?

The Moon is about the same size as Earth The Moon is about one-quarter (1/4) the diameter of Earth The Moon is about half the diameter of Earth The Moon is about one-tenth the diameter of Earth

Q6 Question 6 of 10

How does gravity on the Moon compare to gravity on Earth?

Gravity on the Moon is the same as on Earth There is no gravity on the Moon Gravity on the Moon is about 1/6 of Earth's gravity Gravity on the Moon is about half of Earth's gravity

Q7 Question 7 of 10

Is the Moon getting closer to or farther from Earth over time?

Closer — gravity pulls it in over time Farther — the Moon moves about 3.8 cm away from Earth each year Neither — the Moon's distance stays constant It depends on the season

Q8 Question 8 of 10

What is the average distance from Earth to the Moon?

About 38,440 km About 384,400 km About 3,844,000 km About 150 million km

Q9 Question 9 of 10

Which piece of evidence best supports the Giant Impact Hypothesis?

The Moon is the same age as Mars Moon rocks have a very similar chemical composition to Earth's mantle The Moon has a very large iron core The Moon has oceans of liquid water just like early Earth

Q10 Question 10 of 10

Why does the Moon have almost no atmosphere?

The Moon is too cold for gases to exist The Sun's radiation burns off any atmosphere The Moon's gravity is too weak to hold on to gas molecules, which escape into space The Moon rotates too fast for gases to stay on the surface

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