What causes erosion on the moon's surface?

Prepare for the NJROTC Academics Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

Erosion on the moon's surface is primarily caused by breccia and atomic particles from the sun. The moon does not have an atmosphere like Earth, which means that traditional forms of erosion such as water and wind are not factors. Instead, the surface is impacted by micrometeorite impacts and the bombardment of solar wind, which consists of charged particles emitted by the sun.

Breccia, which is a type of rock formed from the consolidation of fragments, can be created from the high-energy impacts on the lunar surface, leading to the fragmentation of rocks and creating the irregular terrain observed on the moon. The constant exposure to solar wind contributes to the gradual alteration of the surface materials over time, causing a type of erosion unique to the lunar environment.

This understanding illustrates why the focus on atomic particles and breccia is critical to grasping how erosion operates on the moon, highlighting the distinctive processes at play in its geological history.

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