Informative Speech
Theories on the Formation of the Moon
Intro A. Attention Getter “We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream. Wandering by lone sea breakers, and sitting by desolate streams. World losers and world forsakers, for whom the pale moon gleams.” (O 'Shaughnessy). Truer words could not have been spoken for the moon does gleam for us, it gives us light in the darkest of nights, it controls are tidal shifts and some scientist even believe that without it we would spin out of control into outer space.
B. Tie to the Audience
I’m sure many of us have often gazed upon our waxing and waning companion around the sun and contemplated how this celestial sister came into being.
C. Credibility
Through research and an Earth, Space, and Science course taken here at FSCJ I am prepared to present a few theories on how our moon was born.
D. Preview
The theories on the formation of the moon which I will explain today are The Darwin-Fisher Model, Coaccretion, and The Giant Impact Theory.
{Transition: Let me begin with the earliest of these theories}
The Darwin-Fisher Model was first proposed in 1878 by George Howard Darwin son of the famous inventor of the theory of evolution Charles Darwin. George Darwin suggested that the when the Earth was still in its infancy it revolution was so fast that the sun’s gravity forcefully ripped off a chuck of the Earth and this chuck became what we now call the moon. In 1882 a geologist Osmond Fisher added that this chunk which created the moon is how the pacific basin was formed. (Tyson)
Unfortunately there were many problems with this theory. Scientist have calculated that in order for the earth to rotate fast enough for this to happen would have to be revolving at 4 times it current rate today a speed that many astronomers consider impossible. This couple with evidence that the pacific basin formed only 70 million years ago have all but
Cited: "How the Moon Was Born." HowStuffWorks. Discovery Channel. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. O 'Shaughnessy, William E. "Arthur William Edgar O 'Shaughnessy Quotes." Thinkexist. Thinkexist. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. Pilgrim, Gray. "How Was the Moon Formed." Buzzle. Buzzle, 20 Sept. 2011. Web. 24 Feb. 2012. Tyson, Peter. "Origins." PBS. PBS, Nov. 2000. Web. 25 Feb. 2012.