02 Online Worksheet 2

“Inside the Moon”

Annotation
Turquoise – Key words or terms
Gray – Optional information to keep in mind

Terms such
The Moon is a differentiated world. This means that it is composed of different layers as seismic,
with different compositions. The heaviest materials have sunken down into the Moon’s center, rotational,
and the lightest materials have risen to the outermost layer. Seismic, rotational, and gravity and gravity
are all
measurement studies have allowed us to gain insights into the different layers within the Moon.
geological
related.
Iron and
Nickel are
types of
At the center is the Moon’s dense, metallic core. The core is largely composed of iron
elements and some nickel. The inner core is a solid mass of about 480 km in diameter. Surrounding the
that solid inner core is a fluid outer core, that brings the total diameter of the core to about 660 km.
encompass The Moon’s core is small (about 20% of the Moons diameter) as opposed to other terrestrial
some
aspects of
worlds (like the Earth) with cores measuring closer to 50% of their diameters.
the moon’s Planets made up of rocks or metals with a hard surface alongside a molten
core heavy-metal core, few moons, valleys, volcanoes, and craters.
Above the core are the mantle and crust. Differences in compositions between these
layers tell a story of the Moon being largely, or even completely, composed of a great ocean of History of
magma in its very early history. As the magma ocean began to cool, crystals began to form the Moon’s
creation and
within the magma. Crystals of denser mantle minerals, such as olivine and pyroxene, sank to
how it
the bottom of the ocean. Lighter minerals, notably anorthositic plagioclase feldspar, crystalized formed to be
and floated to the surface to form the Moon’s crust. The mantle, with a thickness of roughly the earth’s
1350 km, is far more extensive than the crust, which has an average thickness of about 50 km. satellite.
 Why the Interestingly, the crust of the Moon seems to be thinner on the side of the Moon facing
Moon’s crust the Earth, and thicker on the side facing away. Researchers are still working to determine why Seismometers
seems to be this might be. Seismometers left on the surface of the Moon by the Apollo astronauts have instruments
thinner in used to detect
front of Earth
revealed that the Moon does experience moonquakes. Deep moonquakes, occurring broadly and record
due to around 700 km beneath the lunar surface are tidal events, caused by the pull of Earth’s gravity earthquakes.
Moonquakes. tugging and stretching the internal structures of the Moon.

Meteoroid impacts with the Moon can cause moonquakes originating on or near the
Additional
surface. Another extremely shallow moonquake can come from thermal expansion and information
contraction of rock on or near the surface as it goes from the extremely frigid lunar night to the about
very hot lunar daytime. The fourth type of moonquake originates at the moderately shallow moonquakes
depths of 20-30 km, can register up to a startling 5.5 on the Richter scale, and can last for over and its
variations.
10 minutes! The causes of this fourth type of moonquake are still being investigated.
Outline
Formation of the Moon
A. Core of the Moon
I. Composed of iron and some nickel.
II. Inner core being about 480km in diameter of solid mass.
III. Outer core surrounding the inner core, adding 180km more to the diameter of
the whole core.
B. History of the formation
I. Differences in compositions determine that the Moon was composed of
oceans of magma in the early stages of its cycle.
II. Crystallization occurred as the magma ocean began to cool. As crystals of
denser mantle minerals, such as olivine and pyroxene, sank to the bottom of
the ocean, while anorthositic plagioclase feldspar floated to form the Moon’s
surface.
C. Additional Information
I. The mantle that is 1350 km, is far more extensive than the crust, which has
an average thickness of about 50 km.
II. Coinciding this with the fact that the thinner side of the Moon is facing
towards the Earth, while the thicker side faces away. Probable cause would
be the Earth’s gravity, pulling and stretching the internals of the Moon.

Moonquakes
A. Deep Moonquakes
- Occurs broadly around 700km beneath the lunar surface are tidal events, caused
by the earth’s gravity pulling the Moon’s internal structures.
B. Meteoroid Variation
- Impacts from meteors can abruptly cause moonquakes originating on or near the
surface.
C. Thermal Expansion and contraction of rocks
- An extremely shallow variation that goes from the frigid lunar night to the hot
lunar daytime.
D. Fourth Moonquake Variation
- Originates from the shallow depths of 20-30km and can register up to 5.5 on the
Richter scale. This specific variation can last for 10 minutes.
Summary
The Moon is a celestial body composed of layers with different compositions. The
formation is achieved through the geological processes of seismic and gravity activity. This
knowledge allowed people to gain insights into the different layers within the Moon.

The formation of the Moon starts at its core, which is in the center. This is composed of
iron and nickel, the core itself is small compared to other worlds like the Earth. Above the core
are the mantle and crust. The mantle being 1350km while the crust being only 50km in
thickness. The differences in its compositions dictate that a history of its formation originating
from a sea magma crystallized is a known definitive fact of its surface.

Seismometers left by apollo astronauts confirm that the Moon experiences quakes
similar to earthquakes, that being moonquakes. There are currently 4 known variations of
moonquakes: that being deep moonquakes, meteoroid impacts, thermal expansion with
contraction of rocks, and the fourth type. The deep moonquakes occur around 700km beneath
the lunar surface, caused by the earth’s gravity. The meteoroid impacts occur when a meteoroid
hits the surface of the moon, causing moonquakes. The thermal expansion and contraction of
rocks goes from the lunar night to the hot lunar daytime. The fourth originates from the shallow
depths of 20-30km and can register up to 5.5 on the Richter scale, this specific variation lasts
for 10 minutes.