How does the large-impact hypothesis explain why the Moon is poor in heavy elements like iron?
A) The collision occurred too close to the Sun for heavy elements to exist.
B) The impact occurred after Earth had differentiated heavy elements to its center.
C) The collision blew away most of the heavy elements into space.
D) Most of the heavy elements were vaporized in the collision.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The large-impact hypothesis suggests that the Moon formed from the debris of a collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body. By the time of the impact, Earth had already differentiated, with heavy elements like iron concentrated in its core. Therefore, the material that formed the Moon was primarily from the Earth's mantle, which is poorer in heavy elements.

How Does the Large-Impact Hypothesis Explain Why the Moon Is