Earth Science- Earth, moon, Sun?

Question

Okay. Can someone answer these questions for me? I need to be able to understand it, not just have a definition.
1. Why are there more visible craters on the moon than on the earth?
2. Why did more crators form 4-5 billion years ago?
3. How can you tell where the sun is relative to a picture of the moon?

Thanks a lot! Really helps. Been having trouble with this. ><

Answer 1

Ok. Here we go.

1. On earth there is air and water that flows around and erodes mountains down. This "wears down" the signs of craters over millions of years on Earth. Active volcanos help too. The moon has none of these things to wear down it's craters, so we can still see them, even millions of years after they formed. (There was a short period of volcanic outflow on the moon, which flooded the low lying basins on the moon with basalt).

2. The Solar system was just finishing forming about 4.5 billion years ago, and there was a lot of debris flying around in between the planets during that time. This was a result of how the planets formed, by accretion of dust into rocks, then into boulders, mountains, asteroids, then planets (imagine a snowball rolling downhill). Once the planets--and the moon--were pretty much done forming, there was still a lot of this stuff flying around out there. Those ancient craters reveal how much bombardment the earth received during that time--since erosion has hidden the scars here on earth.

3. By the phase of the moon, and the shadows on the moon. The lit part of the moon points to the sun, as you might think, and when the moon is full the sun is opposite the earth. It's pretty easy to figure out with a good diagram and some thought.

This link should get you started

Answer 2

Question 1.) There are more craters on the Moon than on the Earth because there is no water on the Moon to absorb asteroids when they hit the surface like there is on the Earth. Also, the moon has little or no atmosphere so that the asteroids come into the Moon at full velocity and impact on the surface. The Earth has an atmosphere which meteors and asteroids must penetrate first, before striking the surface. Most of them burn up in the process. Wind, water, and rain have erroded most craters on the Earth and over time, vegetation has masked them from view. From orbiting satelites, however, scientists have been able to detect the location of many previously unknown craters. Radar altimeters have mapped the surface of the Earth and produced good pictures of those craters.

Question 2.) Craters formed all during the birth and formation of the Earth and the Moon. My thinking tells me that the Earth is 4 billion years old, but I may be off a bit. I don't think craters would have formed before the Earth was born/formed.

Question 3.) The location of the Sun relative to the Moon in a photo is rather hard to explain. To see how this works, you really should see Pages 98 and 99 of Ian Ridpath's Book, ASTRONOMY, DK Publishing, NY NY. On those pages Ian has sketches and drawings of the Moon rotating around the Earth while being illuminated by the Sun. And, in those drawings you may see the effect of the Sun's rays on the Moon changing its visable shape from a full circle through the various stages of fullness down to a thin crescent. I highly recommend this book if you can get a copy for yourself. In it you will find answers to most all of your questions about the universe.

Answer 3

1. We can still see the crators on the moon because the moon lacks an atmosphere, so there was and is nothing to erode those craters away (such as on earth, where craters would have been worn away by rain, wind, glaciers, etc.)

2. Most of these crators were formed around 4-5 billion years ago, because that's when our solar system was just forming and there was a tremendous about of debris in space.

3. I'm not sure I understand the question, but I'll take a stab. The picture is a half moon like this: D ...then we would know that the sun in to the "Right" of it in space. If it were something like this: (| it would be on the "Left."

I hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

Answer 4

1. The moon has more visible craters because there is no atmosphere to reduce the size of things that hit it, nor is there foliage or water to obscure the impact points, nor are there significant forces that would cause any erosion.

2. No idea, or even if this statement is true.

3. The light of the moon is reflected light from the sun. Shine a flashlight on a beachball in a dark room, and notice that where the ball starts to curve away from the light beam is where the light from the flashlight does not fall. When you can match the phase of the moon with the amount of beachball you have illuminated, you will have a good idea of where the sun is relative to the moon.

Answer 5

1. since the earth has an atmosphere and wind the craters that we do have get eroded over time. the moon has no atmosphere therefore there is no wind to erode its craters.

2. don't know.

3. you can tell where the sun is relative to the moon depending on where the light is on the moon. if its a half-moon and the left side is lighted, then the sun is to the left of the moon.

Answer 6

Very simple the moon has no atmosphere so all the rocks hit the Moon where the same size would burn up before it hits the earth. Even those that hit the earth are very small compared to what they before they started in.

Answer 7

1. we are on the surface of earth. We can't see far compared to what we see on the moon. We see the surface of the moon through the telescope, but when we are here on Earth, we can only see as far as our eyes can?
2.the ozone layer wasn't as formed?
3.?
I just guessed. I can't think of anything for the 3rd.

Answer 8

"are we to assume that it all came together by chance?" No. Most scientists and athiests do not believe it happened by chance. Chance implies zero cause and effect. "could it be that what God has provided for us to study is being used as a way to say He dosnt exist?" It's possible, but unlikely. "God gives man knowledge of things He Himself created, then man says hey, we have all this knowledge, we dont need God anymore.....any thoughts?" I agree that we don't need any god(s).