GCSE Astronomy — Exploring the Moon

Led by Galileo Galilei

Module 9 of Edexcel GCSE Astronomy and the opening module of Paper 2. Led by Galileo Galilei, who first turned a telescope on the Moon in the winter of 1609–10 and ended the perfect-sphere doctrine of medieval cosmology. The student returns to the Moon with the instrument Tycho lacked, attention now on internal structure, near-side / far-side asymmetry, escape velocity, and the question of origin.

1. Module 9

   Exploring the Moon

   Led by Galileo Galilei

   The question

   What does the Moon look like inside, why is the side we never see so different from the side we always see, how was that hidden side first photographed, what does it cost in energy to send a spacecraft there, and how did the Moon come to be there in the first place? The spec asks the student to compare the lunar and terrestrial interiors, account for the dramatic near/far asymmetry, describe how information about the far side was gathered, calculate and apply escape velocity, and weigh the Giant Impact Hypothesis against the Capture and Co-accretion alternatives.

   Outcome

   the student can describe the lunar interior, account for the near/far asymmetry, trace how knowledge of the far side has been gathered, calculate and apply Earth's escape velocity, describe the Giant Impact Hypothesis, and identify the principal evidential challenges to the Capture and Co-accretion alternatives. *(Edexcel 1AS0 Paper 2 — Topic 9, spec points 9.1–9.5)*

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 9.1 The lunar interior compared with Earth's Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 9.2 Near side vs far side: the dramatic asymmetry Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 9.3 Photographing the far side: from Luna 3 to LRO Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 9.4 Escape velocity and the rocket equation Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 9.5 Giant Impact, Capture, and Co-accretion theories Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion