Which of the following best describes how the Earth's Moon formed?
A) The Earth and the Moon formed at the same time when a protoplanet split apart.
B) Early in the history of our Solar System,an asteroid was captured by the Earth's gravity and became the Moon.
C) Early in the history of our Solar System,a protoplanet collided with the Earth,sending debris into orbit that coalesced to form the Moon.
D) Early in the history of our Solar System,a group of comets was captured by the Earth's gravity and coalesced to form the Moon.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most widely accepted theory for the formation of the Moon is the giant impact hypothesis, which suggests that early in the history of the Solar System, a Mars-sized protoplanet collided with the Earth, sending debris into orbit that eventually coalesced to form the Moon. This theory is supported by various lines of evidence, including the similarity in isotopic compositions between the Earth and Moon and the Moon's lack of a significant metal core.

Which of the Following Best Describes How the Earth's Moon