Year
2016
Season
Spring
Degree Type
Honors Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Physics
Degree Name
Honors in the Major
First Advisor
Dr. John Anderson
Abstract
The dominant theory of the moon’s origin is the Giant Impact Hypothesis, which states that the moon formed when a Mars-sized object - named Theia - impacted the proto-Earth early in the solar system’s formation, with the resulting material contributing to the formation of the Moon. Using models of planetary development and the solar system’s formation, we attempt to answer where the impactor - Theia - might have originated from. We conclude that the Asteroid belt is a likely location for Theia’s formation, and we find that the parameters associated with this point of origin may help advance other models of the Moon’s formation.
Suggested Citation
Hassan, Abubakr, "Mystery of the Moon's Origin" (2016). UNF Undergraduate Capstone Projects and Honors Theses. 15.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/honors/15