Suppose a person built a sandcastle of moon sand on the moon. What would that person find there a month later? (1 point)
The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind.
The sandcastle would be much smaller because changing winds would have eroded much of the sand away
The sandcastle would have grown larger by collecting more sand particles because moon sand is blown by wind
The sandcastle would have grown larger because moon sand particles attract other moon sand particles.
The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind.
The correct answer is: The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind.
To determine what would happen to a sandcastle built on the moon after a month, we need to consider the characteristics of the moon's environment.
Firstly, let's analyze the options provided:
1. "The sandcastle would remain in place the same size that it was because the moon has no wind."
While it is true that the moon has a thin atmosphere and lacks significant wind, this alone does not guarantee that the sandcastle would remain unchanged. Other factors could affect its stability.
2. "The sandcastle would be much smaller because changing winds would have eroded much of the sand away."
This option assumes that there are changing winds on the moon. However, due to the moon's lack of a substantial atmosphere, there is no significant wind present to erode the sandcastle over time.
3. "The sandcastle would have grown larger by collecting more sand particles because moon sand is blown by wind."
This option suggests that moon sand is blown by wind and could accumulate on the sandcastle, causing it to grow larger. However, there is little evidence to support this notion as the moon has a thin atmosphere and minimal wind effects.
4. "The sandcastle would have grown larger because moon sand particles attract other moon sand particles."
The idea that moon sand particles attract each other, causing the sandcastle to grow larger, seems unlikely. There is no evidence to suggest that moon sand particles possess any magnetic or adhesive properties that would enable them to attract each other.
Considering the options provided, none of them are entirely accurate.
In reality, the moon's surface is covered in a layer of fine dust called regolith, which is made up of small rock fragments and micrometeorite impacts. This regolith is not loose like sand but rather compacted and abrasive.
If a person were to build a sandcastle of moon sand on the moon, after a month, the castle would likely retain its shape, but it could be affected by micrometeorite impacts or geological activity. The lack of wind and minimal atmosphere on the moon would greatly limit any changes to the sandcastle's structure over time.
Therefore, the most accurate answer is: "The sandcastle would remain in place, retaining its shape, with no significant changes due to the moon's environment."