Moon Phases
Learning Goals:
- Explain why the moon appears the way it does from Earth
Task A - What causes the phases of the moon
- Have a look through this website for an explanation of the phases of the moon and the video here
- A moon song
- *Further explanation and why it has NOTHING to do with earths shadow
- *For a cool view also check this one
- *Another look at the Earth Moon and Sun relationships here or here
Task B - Notes
2. In which direction is the Earth revolving, clockwise or anticlockwise? 3. In which direction is the Moon rotating around the Earth, clockwise or anticlockwise? 4. What does it mean when the Moon is ‘waxing’? 5. Which numbers on the diagram represent the Moon when it is waxing? 6. What does it mean when the Moon is ‘waning’? 7. Which numbers on the diagram represent the Moon when it is waning? 8. How much of the illuminated surface of the Moon do we see when the Moon is a crescent? 9. Which numbers represent a crescent Moon? 10. How much of the illuminated surface of the Moon do we see when the Moon is gibbous? 11. Which numbers represent a gibbous Moon? 12. What time of day would i) a new moon and ii) full moon occur (exactly)? *13 There are two definitions of what a blue moon is. Research and explain one. *14. Does the moon really have a dark side? Have you ever seen all of the moon? Research and explain this. |