Question

Answer the following, giving reasons.
(a) Can you light a fire on the moon ?
(b) If a meteor falls on the moon, can you hear it ?
(c) Can you see the meteor falling on the moon ?
(d) Can life exist on the moon?

Answer 1

To answer the above questions as easily as possible, we will use the basic properties of different forms of energy. We will analyze these forms of energy on the basis of their characteristics when transferred from one point to another in space.

Complete answer:
(a) Can we light a fire on the moon! The answer to this question lies in the fact that when we are lighting a fire, the actual process is combustion of a fuel ( that is the substance to be burnt) in the presence of Oxygen.
Now since the moon has no atmosphere of its own, it lacks Oxygen. Therefore, it is not possible to light fire on the moon.
(b) We know, sound requires a medium to traverse. For example, on Earth the atmosphere acts as a medium and we are able to hear everything around us.
But, since moon has no atmosphere of its own, the sound of a falling meteor couldn’t be heard on the moon
(c) Yes, we can see the meteor falling on the moon, as light doesn’t require a medium to traverse and it can move through space unlike sound.
(d) Under normal conditions, life cannot exist on the moon. As it has no atmosphere and very weak magnetic strength, it cannot protect itself from the harmful and dangerous solar rays that come out of the sun.

Note:
Sometimes, these trivial questions can be asked in our school examinations or even Boards, so it is very important to remember these conceptual topics thoroughly. These may even be helpful sometimes in solving a numerical problem which requires these properties as a parameter.