The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN: 9780134874364
Author: Jeffrey O. Bennett, Megan O. Donahue, Nicholas Schneider, Mark Voit
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 9, Problem 57EAP
Lunar Footprints. Assume that the Moon is hit by about 25 million micrometeorite impacts each day (this number comes from observations of meteors in Earth’s atmosphere) and that these impacts strike randomly around the Moon’s surface. Also assume that it takes about 20 such impacts to destroy a footprint. About how long would it take for one of the footprints left by the Apollo astronauts to be erased? (Hints: Use the Moon’s surface area to determine the impact rate per square centimete,and estimate the size of a footprint.)
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Students have asked these similar questions
Why are Mercury and the Moon so much more heavily cratered than the Earth?
Explain how crater counts tell us the age of a surface.
Which of the following is least reasonable regarding impact craters?
Group of answer choices
The size and shape of the crater and the amount of material excavated depends on factors such as the velocity and mass of the impacting body and the geology of the surface.
Craters are most often are circular but more elongate craters can be produced with impactors striking the surface at very low angles.
The Moon has more craters than the Earth because of its strong tidal force on the impactors.
Objects from space typically hit Earth at about 20 km/s ande produce craters that can be approximately 20 times larger in diameter than the impacting objects.
The faster the incoming impactor, the larger the crater.
Which of these surface features, discovered by the first spacecraft mission (Mariner 4) to Mars, was NOT expected to be seen on Mars?
Answers:
A.
craters
B.
giant volcanoes
C.
expansive canyons
D.
canals
E.
running water
Chapter 9 Solutions
The Cosmic Perspective (9th Edition)
Ch. 9 - Prob. 1VSCCh. 9 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 9 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 9 - Use the following questions to check your...Ch. 9 - Describe the core-mantle-crust structures of the...Ch. 9 - Summarize the processes by which planetary...Ch. 9 - Why does Earth have a global magnetic field? Why...Ch. 9 - Define each of the four major geological...Ch. 9 - Prob. 5EAPCh. 9 - Why is the Moon so much more heavily cratered than...
Ch. 9 - Summarize the ways in which a terrestrial world’s...Ch. 9 - Briefly summarize the geological history of the...Ch. 9 - Briefly summarize the geological history of...Ch. 9 - Choose five features on the global map of Mars...Ch. 9 - Why isn’t liquid water stable on Mars today, and...Ch. 9 - Choose at least three major geological features of...Ch. 9 - What evidence tells us that Venus was “repaved”...Ch. 9 - Describe the conveyor-like action of plate...Ch. 9 - Briefly explain how each of the following...Ch. 9 - To what extent do we think the geologies of the...Ch. 9 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we were to make...Ch. 9 - Prob. 18EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 19EAPCh. 9 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we were to make...Ch. 9 - Prob. 21EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 22EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 23EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 24EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 25EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 26EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 27EAPCh. 9 - Surprising Discoveries? Suppose we were to make...Ch. 9 - Prob. 29EAPCh. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Prob. 33EAPCh. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Choose the best answer to each of the following....Ch. 9 - Prob. 38EAPCh. 9 - Mars Attracts. William Herschel, Giovanni...Ch. 9 - Prob. 41EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 42EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 43EAPCh. 9 - Prob. 44EAPCh. 9 - Dating Planetary Surfaces. We have discussed two...Ch. 9 - Comparative Erosion. Of Mercury, Venus, the Moon,...Ch. 9 - Miniature Mars. Suppose Mars had turned out to be...Ch. 9 - Change in Fundamental Properties. Choose one...Ch. 9 - Predictive Geology. Suppose another star system...Ch. 9 - Mystery Planet. It’s the year 2098, and you are...Ch. 9 - “Coolest” Surface Photo. Visit the Astronomy...Ch. 9 - Surface AreatoVolume Ratio. Compare the surface...Ch. 9 - Doubling Your Size. Just as the surface...Ch. 9 - Lunar Footprints. Assume that the Moon is hit by...Ch. 9 - Geological Proportions. Express the approximate...Ch. 9 - Internal vs. External Heating. In daylight,...Ch. 9 - Prob. 60EAPCh. 9 - More Plate Tectonics. Consider a seafloor...
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Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- Describe sources and sinks of CO2, if any, on Mars today.arrow_forwardOne source of information about Mars has been the analysis of meteorites from Mars. Since no samples from Mars have ever been returned to Earth from any of the missions we sent there, how do we know these meteorites are from Mars? What information have they revealed about Mars?arrow_forwardWe believe that chains of comet fragments like Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9’s have collided not only with the jovian planets, but occasionally with their moons. What sort of features would you look for on the outer planet moons to find evidence of such collisions? (As an extra bonus, can you find any images of such features on a moon like Callisto? You can use an online site of planetary images, such as the Planetary Photojournal, at photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov.)arrow_forward
- We believe that all of the terrestrial planets had similar histories when it comes to impacts from space. Explain how this idea can be used to date the formation of the martian highlands, the martian basins, and the Tharsis volcanoes. How certain are the ages derived for these features (in other words, how do we check the ages we derive from this method)?arrow_forwardWhat do our current ideas about the origins of the Moon and Mercury have in common? How do they differ?arrow_forwardHow does the large-impact hypothesis explain the Moons lack of iron?arrow_forward
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