How Did The Earth Get Its Water?

A Science Project

By Vivian Nha-An Sanchez

April 8, 2015

How Did The Earth Get Its Water?

A Science Project

By Vivian Nha-An Sanchez

Started On: April 3, 2015

Mrs. Schell’s Class

Charles G. Emery Elementary

Table of Contents:

Page 1 Abstract.

Page 2 Introduction

Background Research

Page 3 How water is made in Space?

How solar systems are formed?

Page 4 How the moon was formed?

Page 5 The earth magnetic field.

Page 6 The bombardment theory

The Vivian’s theory.

Page 7 Supporting facts

Page 7 Hypotheses

Page 9 Conclusion.

Page 9 Equipment..

Page 10 Reference & Links.

Page 11 Journal

Page 14 Other Photos of research.

Abstract:

How the Earth got its water?

The scientific community says that the Earth gets its water from comets and asteroids. I think is their theory is wrong. What I am proposing is a new theory about it. In this project I will explain my reasons of why I think they are wrong, and I will propose a new theory.

Since I do not have a super-computer to simulate my theory nor the math background yet, I propose that NASA or other institution try to demonstrate than I am wrong.

Introduction:The scientific method is the process by which science is carried out. It involves making

conjectures, deriving predictions from them as logical consequences and then carrying out experiments based on those predictions to determine if the conjecture is correct.

As a young girl, I accept the theory of how to universe was created, but my dad always is questioning me about what do I believe and asked me to explain my thoughts.

This questioning and the Gates class that I took this last year of “Earth and Planets” bring me to exam the theory of ”How the Earth got its water”, and after some serious thoughts that lead me to challenge the existing bombardment theory and to propose a new one. The Vivian’s Theory.

As many theories, I can only visualized my theory but not prove it, due the lack of resources and more knowledge. But they are some scientists that can take my theory and conduct the simulations to prove it right. Or wrong. So HELP!

Background Research:Let’s start by reviewing some facts and theories:

1. How Water is made in Space?

Water is made in space by two methods. One method is that oxygen and hydrogen atoms combine on a dust particle creating a water molecule (H20). The other is a little more complicated, and the picture explains the process.

Hydrogen molecules (H2), when they are hit by cosmic rays, it ionized to form H3+ ions; Oxygen is attracted to these ions and combines to form posy-hydroxide ions (OH+). They combined with hydrogen molecules to form ions of water(H2O +) that attract another molecule of hydrogen and produces hydronium (H3O+), this molecule after losing an electron ( e-) , generates water, or oxygen, or hydroxide. This reaction only occurs in space at temperatures below 100 ºK. The temperature in space is in average 33 º Kelvin or -240 ºC.

Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNTGtqEeoZM

Most of the water in our solar system was already in space before the solar system creation.

2. How solar systems are formed?

The actual theory is that nebulas spin and gravity collapses them to form a spinning disk. Molecules especially from hydrogen, since this is the most abundant molecule in space, are bought to the center and are compressed by gravity. When they reach a critical pressure and temperature, a start is formed.

Particles that are away from the center, by gravity they start to group together to form planets and moons as it was demonstrated in 2003 by astronaut Donald R. Pettit experiment of “salt in a bag” in the international space station (ref. 1 & 2).

Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL3YNQK960Y

3. How the moon was formed?

The actual theory is that a young planet called Thea crashed into Earth and from the debris the moon was formed. Because the impact, both planets were liquefied and most of the heavy elements were attracted to the center of the Earth forming its core and magnetic field. The remaining of Thea formed the

moon.

The

elements that formed the moon were the same elements that make up the Earth’s mantle. When the earth was impacted, it changed its till and rotation.

4. The earth’s magnetic field.

Due the inner core, the outer core remains liquid. It is believed that is formed of copper, nickel, and iron. Since the earth rotates a magnetic field is formed, shielding the earth from the solar winds

The bombardment theory:

The accepted theory of how the earth got its water is that after the impact with Thea, Earth was bombarded by meteors and comets for millions of years. These objects bring some water inside of them, and after time the water was accumulated on Earth’s surface.

What is wrong with this theory?

1. Since the earth and the moon were very close to each other, the moon also was impacted by the meteors and comets. Therefore the moon should have to have water in the same proportions as earth. But it doesn’t.

2. Recent studies in space of the composition of comets and meteors have shown that the amount of water that comets and meteors have, is less than what scientists believe in the past.

The Vivian’s theory:

Supporting Facts

1. Since the formation of the early Earth, water was on the its atmosphere along with nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and other gases, but since it doesn’t have a magnetic field, they were stripped away by the solar winds (sputtering) as Mars was & Venus is still do as the “Venus Express Mission” probe it (ref 3).

Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC31pqk9sak

After the impact with Thea, both planets liquefied allowing the heavy element to transfer and accumulated in the Earth center forming the core, also it tilted and rotated Earth, the moon was formed and Earth gained its magnetic field.

2. Studies had shown that beyond Mars the planets and most of their moons have more amount of ice in its composition

Ref: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNTGtqEeoZM

And although it is not too much ~3% between Mars (Ma) & Jupiter (J) it is a huge amount of water-ice.

The on-going NASA Dawn mission to the Asteroids Belt suggest that the composition of asteroid Ceres, the largest body in the Asteroids Belt, may have a water-ice layer.

3. So it’s logical to think that Thea had almost the same composition of Earth, since they were in the same region in space, and both of them had more water-ice than the inner planets.

Hypotheses:I propose that the early Earth was in a different orbit that it is today, a little bit far of the one that the asteroids belt actually has. When the impact with Thea occurs it ejected the Earth and the moon to its actual orbit and the Asteroid belt as well as the Trojans, and Greeks, the asteroids that have the same orbit than Jupiter, were formed as well as the Hildas.

Some of the water of both planets was ejected into space, but most of it was retained as water vapor in Earth’s new atmosphere now protected by the

magnetic field.

The naturally form water in the earth also raised to the atmosphere where it mix. Due the rotation of the earth, the water vapor in the atmosphere cools down and precipitated as rain helping to cool down the surface of the planet. When the surface temperature allowed water started to accumulate in its surface.

Comets and meteoroids also bring some water to earth, but not in the quantity that the bombardment theory proposed.

And that how the earth got its water!

Conclusion:

Materials & Equipment:

1. Computer with internet connection2. Printer.

Permits to use images:

1. http://www.novacelestia.com/faq.html#tre 2. http://www.shutterstock.com/en/license

References & Links:

1. http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/building-planets-in- plastic-bags/

2. Particle agglomerates in microgravity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0YuivnCXhM&list=PL7E4B5CB811F0EFEC&index=19

3. Why Mars Died, and Earth Livedhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC31pqk9sak

4. When Planets Collide!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC3E6ILOoUQ5. The universe in 10 min.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ip5BAEfZuA

6. The nebular theoryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL3YNQK960Yhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2c9DB3EnU

7. How Did Earth Get Its Water? - University of Michigan Lecture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNTGtqEeoZM8. Where Does Our Water Come From?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LpgBvEPozk9. The von Karman Lecture Series: Dawn’s Mission to the Asteroid Belt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Qa5fQ0dkOW0 10. Dawn Ceres Arrival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJr-pctUYdw

Journal:

Date: Activity:

4-3-2015 1. I selected the subject of this project.2. I researched in the internet for information about it.

4-4-2015 to 4-6-2015.

1. I continued my research for information of how the Earth was formed.

2. Watched some videos on You-tube about the Assyrians tablets and their stories of the creation of the universe and the epic of Gilgamesh.

4-7-2015

1. I continued my research for information of how the Earth was formed.

2. Watched some videos on You-tube about formation of the moon.

4-8-2015

1. I started typing my repot.2. Watched some videos on You-tube about “How the earth got its

water”. I learned a lot about ”The Bombardment Theory”.

4-9-2015

1. Watched more videos on You-tube about “How the earth got its water”.

4-10-2015

1. Watched videos on You-tube about Earth’s magnetic field.

Date: Activity:

4-11-2015

1. Watched more videos on You-tube about Earth’s magnetic field. ”. I learned more about ”Earth’s core”

4-12-2015

1. Watched a great video on You-tube about Formation of water in space from the University of Michigan.

2. Asked dad questions about what I did not understand of the graphic of planet composition.

3. Finally I understand how water is formed in space.

4-13-2015

1. I searched for images for my report2. I watched great videos on You-tube about Earth formation, where

astronaut aboard the International Space station explained how

planets formed with an experiment of salt particles in a plastic bag.

4-14-2015

1. I searched for images for my report2. I watched video on You-tube about The Asteroids Belt.

4-15-2015

1. I watched a great video on You-tube about the NASA Dawn mission to the Asteroid Belt.

2. I learned about composition of Ceres & Vesta asteroids.3. I searched for images for my report4. The Vivian’s Theory about “how the Earth got is water” is drafted.

Date: Activity:

4-16-2015

1. I continued writing my report.2. Went with dad to buy the board for my display.2. I did the title display calculations for centering the Title.3. I transferred the letter stickers on to the display board.

4-17-2015

1. Final Draft of my theory, using a compass find the place of impact in the asteroid belt that supports the expansion wave after impact.

2. Drawing of the proposal trajectory and impact site.3. Wrote and sent letters to scientists asking for help to support my

theory.

4-18-2015

1. I started to glue the papers on the board 2. I typed the Data & Results sections of both procedures.3. I typed and printed the data & results to be glue in the board.

4-19-2015

1. I finish gluing the papers on the board.2. I printed the report.

Open House is just around the corner and last year I waited till the last minute. I’m glad I could finish this in time. Yay Me!

Early Earth was impacted by Thea in the middle of the actual Asteroid belt trajectory, and pushed into its actual trajectory.

Forming the asteroids belt as well as the Greeks, Trojans and Hildas.

Other Photos of the research.