Week 3: Space: The Moon

 1. What did you do in lab today? What was the big question?

In lab this week, we did an experiment trying to create craters in the moon. It was very open ended. We used flour, cocoa powder, and balls to try to create craters. The big question of the lab was why does the dark side of the moon have less craters than the side that faces Earth? We got to work with our table groups to figure out what the question even was from the tools we were given to create the experiment. I really enjoyed the freedom we had to explore on our own. 

2. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion? 

Early Earth was a molten ball of mass

Why are there different thicknesses on the different sides of the moon?

Earth facing side: 200 degrees F warmer 

Near side acts more as a plastic than a solid substance 

More prone to volcanic activity, including magma fields (dark spots on the near side) 

But, there is no active core, so why did it have volcanoes? 

Questions: 

Residual heat from radioactive decay? 

Earth’s gravity, due to tidal locking, pulled early molten material toward the observable side? 

Once hit by a meteor that thickened the crust on the far side? 

What causes the different phases of the moon? 

Parts of the moon reflect light depending on the position of the earth in relation to the sun and the moon. 

Origin of the moon: 

A Mars sized object called Theia collided with Earth, expelling a little bit of Earth and Theia creating the moon, also could be the cause of why the Earth is tilted. 

We need the moon to survive- controls the tides of the ocean (food supply) 

There are lots of alternate theories as to how the moon was created such as fission, Earth captured it, co-formation with the Earth, colliding planetesimals (current idea that is believed by scientists)

Other cultures also may have different beliefs of the moon's origin

Allow students the space to share their cultural beliefs in the classroom. 

The Earth takes a year to go around the sun. What about the moon? Does it orbit the Earth

28 days. 

How many times in a year? 

12 times. 

Distance between the Earth and the moon? 

Increases by 1.6 inches a year

Does the moon rotate?

Yes it does!

How often does the sunrise on the moon? 

Every 28 days 

During a solar eclipse the moon appears to completely cover the sun. What phase is the moon in just before and after a solar eclipse? 

New moon. 

Does the moon have gravity?

The moon has a very small amount of gravity.

The moon becomes larger on the horizon because it is closer to Earth. True or false?

True. 

How big do you think the moon is?

The size of the United States. 

Will someone in Iowa who sees a crescent moon, see the same shape as their friends in South Africa?

Yes, they will see a crescent moon because the Earth spun in the 24 hrs. 

Online Chapter: 

1. What did you learn? I learned more in-depth information about the moon, what was specifically new to me while reading this chapter was learning about the moon's surface and structure, I did not know what regolith was or Maria was until reading this chapter. Also, the moons structure. I think I had learned about it in my elementary years, but had forgotten, so learning about the core, crust, and mantle was very helpful to me and my learning.

2. What was the most helpful? I would say what was most helpful for me when reading this chapter was the phases of the moon chart, similar to the one we saw in lab and lecture. I have always struggled with naming the phases so this was very helpful to me. 

3. What do you need more information on? How does the moon stabilize the Earth's axial tilt? I am very curious about this and it is something I would like to learn more about. 

4. What questions/concerns/comments do you have? If other planets also have moons, how did they form?