How do scientists think the moon was formed?

Question

How do scientists think the moon was formed?

Gravitational forces attracted a moon formed elsewhere in space.

A separate ring of the original material that formed Earth formed the moon.

Meteoroids collected and solidified within the pull of Earth’s gravity.

A large object struck Earth, and the ejected material from the collision combined.

Answer 1

The scientists believe that the most likely explanation for the formation of the moon is the last option - a large object, possibly the size of Mars, impacted Earth and the debris ejected from the collision eventually came together to form the moon. This theory is known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis and is supported by several lines of evidence, including the similarity between the composition of the moon and Earth's mantle, as well as the moon's relatively low iron content.