Before the Mars-sized impactor struck Earth to cause ejecta that formed the Moon,Earth probably had a _____ density and _____ rotation rate than it does now.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The impactor added additional mass to Earth, increasing its density. Conservation of angular momentum would cause Earth to spin faster before the impact, but the collision likely caused the rotation rate to slow down slightly. Therefore, before the impact, Earth probably had a smaller density and slower rotation rate than it does now.

Before the Mars-Sized Impactor Struck Earth to Cause Ejecta That