Question

What is the surfaces of the inner planets and our own moon are heavily pitted with impact craters. The same is true of many of the moons of the outer solar system. However, only about 150 large craters have been found on Earth. Explain why so few craters have been identified on Earth and how such events may have affected the history of life on our planet.

Answer 1

Hmm... What happens on Earth when a rock comes in from outer space? What happens on the moon?

Answer 2

atmosphere and wind

Answer 3

and weather

Answer 4

and tectonic plates

Answer 5

certainly weather (rain) and tectonic movement tend to erase craters. But more importantly, small meteors never get a chance to blast a crater because they lose most of their energy to the air on the way in.

Answer 6

"small meteors never get a chance to blast a crater because they lose most of their energy to the air on the way in"

This is likely the primary reason imo. You can't have a lot of big craters if most meteors burn up on entry.

Answer 7

yup yup - otherwise there'd be craters everywhere after every meteor shower. The big ones, of course, DO come through. That's why we do have a few craters

Answer 8

Bad thing if yer a dinosaur

Answer 9

i would avoid the dinosaur extinction due to meteors argument as it cannot be proven definitely

Answer 10

yup yup, I'd agree... it's a probably but not proved