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What does the Big Bang theory suggest about the origin of the universe?
It suggests the universe began about 13.8 billion years ago from a single, extremely hot and dense point, then expanded.
What is an asteroid?
A rocky body orbiting the Sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
What evidence suggests dinosaurs once existed?
Fossilized bones, footprints, and preserved remains found worldwide.
What is meant by “mass extinction”?
A rapid and widespread loss of many species across the Earth in a relatively short time.
What is the Giant Impact Hypothesis?
The idea that the Moon formed after a Mars-sized body collided with Earth, ejecting debris that coalesced into the Moon.
Why do scientists think an asteroid collision contributed to the extinction of dinosaurs?
Evidence of a crater in Mexico (Chicxulub) and global iridium layers suggest a massive impact caused climate changes leading to extinction.
What is “impact winter”?
A period of global cooling caused by dust and debris blocking sunlight after a large asteroid or volcanic eruption.
What is the name for the cooling period after a massive impact?
Winter
What is the Capture Theory of the Moon’s origin?
It suggests the Moon formed elsewhere and was later captured by Earth’s gravity.
Which planet is believed to have collided with Earth to form the Moon?
Theia
Myth: “Dinosaurs went extinct because they were too big and slow.” Why is this incorrect?
Fossil evidence shows many small, fast dinosaurs existed; extinction was due to environmental changes, not size or speed.
Misconception: “The Big Bang was an explosion in space.” What’s the correction?
It was the expansion of space itself, not an explosion within space.
What is the name of the faint radiation left over from the Big Bang?
Microwave
What role did “impact winter” play in mass extinction events?
It blocked sunlight, reduced photosynthesis, collapsed food chains, and caused widespread species loss.
Why does the Giant Impact Hypothesis explain the Moon’s lack of iron compared to Earth?
The impact ejected lighter crustal material, which formed the Moon, leaving it iron-poor.
Which hypothesis explains the Moon’s formation after a collision with Earth?
Impact
Misconception: “Mass extinctions always happen because of asteroid impacts.” What’s the correction?
Other causes include volcanic eruptions, climate change, and human activity.
How does the Big Bang theory explain the abundance of hydrogen and helium in the universe?
These light elements formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang, dominating cosmic matter.
Why is the Capture Theory less likely than the Giant Impact Hypothesis?
Capturing a large body like the Moon would require improbable conditions; the impact theory better matches chemical evidence.
What evidence supports the idea that mass extinctions can lead to new species evolution?
After extinctions, ecological niches open, allowing surviving species to diversify (e.g., mammals after dinosaurs).
Myth: “The Moon has always been the same distance from Earth.” Why is this false?
The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth at about 3.8 cm per year.
Misconception: “The Big Bang created stars immediately.” What’s the correction?
Stars formed hundreds of millions of years later, after matter cooled and clumped together.
What theory explains the origin of the universe?
Big Bang
Why do scientists compare different Moon origin theories?
To test which theory best matches evidence like composition, orbit, and computer simulations.
How does studying past mass extinctions help predict future risks for Earth?
It shows how global systems respond to sudden changes, helping scientists prepare for asteroid impacts or climate crises.