Which of the following statements about the Moon's formation is true?

The statement indicating that the Moon arose from a direct collision resulting in debris orbiting Earth is grounded in the leading scientific theory known as the Giant Impact Hypothesis. According to this theory, about 4.5 billion years ago, a Mars-sized body, often referred to as Theia, collided with the young Earth. The immense energy from this impact caused a significant amount of material to be ejected into orbit around Earth. Over time, this debris coalesced due to gravitational forces, forming the Moon. This explanation is supported by various lines of evidence, including the similarities in the isotopic compositions of Earth and Moon rocks.

The other statements do not accurately reflect the current scientific understanding of the Moon's formation. The first statement about forming from materials in the asteroid belt does not align with evidence regarding the Moon’s composition or the timing of formation relative to the formation of the solar system. The third statement, suggesting that volcanic activity on Earth created the Moon, misunderstands the origins of the Moon, as volcanic processes would not account for the independent body that orbits Earth. Lastly, while the Moon did form after the Earth had already formed, it did so relatively soon after Earth’s formation, rather than "millions of years" later, which