What's it like on the moon?

[mummytait]

Calling Apollo astronauts - or anyone else who knows.

If I put a flag made from paper on the moon, would it move? how does 1/6 gravity make things react? Would it last indefinately or would the paper degenerate?

[matt66]

As there is no atmosphere, there wont be a wind and hence the flag wont move (this is part of the conspiracy theory as NASA landing photos show the flag fluttering).

But the paper will degenrate as there is extremes of temperature from blow freezing to above boiling temp). So the paper will break apart.

[gen2]

Solar radiation will also degrade the paper by splitting large molecules into smaller ones. On earth, oxygen in the atmosphere speeds the breakdown but without a lunar atmosphere, that will not occur on the moon.

Another mechanism by which the paper will degrade, is by bombardment by micro-meteorites or space dust. On earth, these would either burn up in our atmosphere or be decelerated to such slow speeds that thay are harmless. On the moon these particles will impact with the paper at full speed and will most probably punch a hole right through.

[brachiopod]

And apart from oxygen, there is no water on the moon either (at least, free, meteoric-derived water in liquid or vapour form) - which is useful in non-bacterial degradation processes.

I am not an Apollo astronaut, but I have held "moon rocks" in my hand and looked at them under a microscope [in thin section under polarised light for those that are interested]

They basically had the same composition (plagioclase, pyroxene and olivine) as fresh basalts here on Earth (although some samples were rich in titanium), yet these Lunar basalts were a bit older - by about 4 billion years.

It is the lack of weathering - requiring oxygen and water and a 'weather' system that kept these basalts as fresh as the day they were erupted.

Sadly, we weren't allowed to examine the samples labelled;

"Blue-veined Lunar Rock Sample - GZ25.3 - Gorgonzola - TOP SECRET"

or even the one labelled;

"CLASSIFIED - LUNAR SAMPLE CODENAME CHEDDAR"

[brachiopod]

OK, I may have made the last (cheesy) bit up - but the rest is true.

[SteveD]

If you go here:

http://moon.google.com/

and, using the control at the left to zoom right in, you will see that brachiopod might have been onto something after all!

[Caladon]

Photons from the sun will also degrade the paper. This occurs in a vacuum as well as in an atmosphere.

The flag on the Moon moved when the guys erected it because they were moving it about. Not being caused by air resistance, but by the amount of G's it was being swung by.

As for things reacting in a one sixth environment... things still fall, but not as quickly.
When Shephard hit that golf ball... they didn't even see it land! But of course it did. They think it went a couple of miles!

Ergo, will the flag flap by itself? No.
Will the paper degrade? Yes.

[mummytait]

thanks for your answers everyone. I knew you wouldn't let me down.
So, pretty inhospitable there on the old moon. looks lovely from where I sit but I might have to change my plans!!!!