Suppose a person built a sandcastle of moon sand on the moon. What would that person find there a month later?
A. The sandcastle would be much smaller because changing winds would have eroded much of the sand away.
B. The sandcastle would have grown larger by collecting more sand particles because moon sand is blown by wind
C. The sandcastle would have grown larger because moon sand particles attract other moon sand particles.
D. The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind.
D. The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind.
D. The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind.
To determine the most likely outcome, we can analyze the conditions present on the moon.
Option A suggests that the sandcastle would be much smaller after a month due to the changing winds eroding the sand away. However, the moon does not have a substantial atmosphere like Earth, so wind erosion would be minimal or non-existent. Thus, Option A can be ruled out.
Option B suggests that the sandcastle would grow larger by collecting more sand particles because moon sand is blown by the wind. While it is true that there is no atmosphere on the moon, there is still a small amount of lunar dust present. However, the effect of this dust being blown around by the weak lunar gravity is negligible compared to the wind erosion on Earth. So, Option B is unlikely as well.
Option C states that the sandcastle would grow larger because moon sand particles attract other moon sand particles. Although it is true that certain types of sand, such as magnetite-rich sand, can exhibit magnetic properties, this is not the case with the "moon sand" typically used for play purposes. Moon sand is usually a mixture of sand and other compounds like polymeric binders or oils, and it does not possess the ability to attract other sand particles. Therefore, Option C is incorrect.
Option D suggests that the sandcastle would remain in place the same size because the moon has no wind. Given that the moon has a virtually nonexistent atmosphere and negligible wind, it is logical to deduce that the sandcastle would indeed remain in place the same size as it was initially. Therefore, Option D is the most plausible answer.
In conclusion, a person who built a sandcastle of moon sand on the moon would find the sandcastle to remain in place and the same size that it was after a month.