Question

Match each hypothesis for how the Moon formed with the statement that best describes it.

The Moon was locked into orbit by Earth's
gravity as it was passing by it.
The Moon was formed from the same cloud
of material as Earth.
The Moon was formed from the collision between
Earth and another Mars-sized body.
The Moon was formed from collisions and combining
of planetesimals.
giant impact theory

Answer 1

The Moon is believed to have formed through the giant impact hypothesis, which posits a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body created debris that eventually coalesced into the Moon.

Step-by-step explanation:

To match each hypothesis for how the Moon formed with the appropriate statement, we need to reference the current understanding of lunar origin as outlined by the giant impact hypothesis. The three standard hypotheses were the fission theory, the sister theory, and the capture theory, yet each had problems and couldn't account for the details known from lunar samples. The giant impact hypothesis asserts that the Moon was formed from the collision between Earth and another Mars-sized body approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The debris from this colossal impact orbited Earth, eventually condensing into the Moon.

Match the hypotheses with their descriptions accordingly:

• The fission theory: The Moon was formed from part of Earth itself, breaking away early in our planet's history.
• The sister theory: The Moon and Earth formed independently but from the same cloud of material.
• The capture theory: The Moon was locked into orbit by Earth's gravity as it was passing by.
• Giant impact theory: The Moon formed from the collision between Earth and another Mars-sized body.