i couldn't figure this one out.
Materials, such as water, that become gaseous easily at room temperature are called volatiles. How does the complete lack of volatiles in lunar rocks support the impact theory of moon's formation?
please help and thank you
Since when is water volatile at room temperature? What temperature is your room? You need to reconsider your definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatiles
To understand how the complete lack of volatiles in lunar rocks supports the impact theory of the moon's formation, let's break it down step by step.
1. Understand what volatiles are: Volatiles are materials that have a low boiling point, meaning they can easily change from a liquid state to a gaseous state at room temperature. Examples of volatiles include water vapor, carbon dioxide, and various gases.
2. Learn about the impact theory of the moon's formation: According to this theory, the moon was formed when a Mars-sized object, often referred to as "Theia," collided with Earth early in its history. The impact caused debris from both the Earth and Theia to be ejected into space. Over time, this debris coalesced to form the moon.
3. Consider the lack of volatiles in lunar rocks: One of the key pieces of evidence supporting the impact theory is the absence of volatiles in lunar rocks. When Theia collided with Earth, the intense heat generated by the impact would have caused the volatiles present in both bodies to vaporize and escape into space. As a result, the moon's formation would primarily involve the solid, non-volatile components of both the Earth and Theia.
4. Analyze the composition of lunar rocks: Studies of lunar samples brought back by the Apollo missions have revealed that they are virtually devoid of volatiles. The moon's rocks primarily consist of silicates, metals, and other non-volatile elements and compounds. The absence of volatiles, combined with the presence of non-volatile materials, strongly supports the impact theory. Had the moon formed through a different mechanism, we would expect to find more volatiles, like water, in its rocks.
In summary, the lack of volatiles in lunar rocks provides evidence that the moon's formation was the result of a high-energy impact event with a smaller planet-sized object. The intense heat produced by the impact would have caused the volatiles to escape into space, leaving behind a non-volatile-dominated lunar composition.