How the moon was formed?

[Theorist]

Re: How the moon was formed?

@TLK

OK so if moon was formed out of the same dust as earth then there are 2 scenarios that could make that happen as you mentioned.

1.****** Collision: In this case the earth has already taken its solid shape, and huge chunk of earth soil ejected out of the sphere because of the collision. In such scenario, lunar soil composition should be very similar to earth’s soil composition.

2.****** Left over dust after earth’s formation: In this case, though the lunar composition would have same elements as earth, but I believe that in such case, lunar soil should have a higher percentage of heavier elements than earth. Why? *Before the formation of the earth, when all the dust was rotating in the shape of disk, the heavier elements would tend to move to the outer layers because of the centrifugal force. So if earth is formed from the inner matter of that disk and moon from the outmost layers, then moon must contain higher content (percentage wise) of heavy elements than earth.

I don’t know if my theory holds any weight in real scientific world, but the logic is right at least. Look what I found when I googled the composition comparison

http://fti.neep.wisc.edu/neep602/LEC12/IMAGES/vg_scan.JPG

Well, looks like your theory holds well.

What I am trying to say is that the collision or planet formation can and sometimes do happen at the same time. They don’t have to be two separate unrelated events. Collisions can and do happen during planet formations and planets still get their shape although the process is delayed. This doesn’t defy your theory of finding lunar surface to be richer in heavy minerals than the earth.

Maybe I am not saying it right. Let me try again. The similar mineral makeup can be caused by either collisions with the planet or the left over dust from the planet formation. Whether a collision happens during planet formation or after, it vaporizes whatever surface it comes in contact with. That dust shoots up into space that could or could not form another celestial body. Whether that dust is the result of planet formation or a collision, it doesn’t really matter. The end result is similar. Again, it doesn’t go against your theory.