Answer Questions 1 4

Transcription

1 Name Date Period Introduction: Even though the moon does not appear to turn on its own axis from the Earth s point of view, it is indeed rotating as it revolves around the Earth. In the following activity, you will investigate the actual and apparent motions of the moon and the cause of the phases of the Moon. Materials: Orbit of the Moon Sheet Sun Model (yellow ball) Earth Model (blue and black ball) Moon model (white ball with black dot) 3 caps Moon Model (black and white ball) Directions: The purpose of this lab is to simulate the revolution of the moon around the Earth. In order for this lab to work you must carefully follow these directions. PART 1: MOON s Rotation 1) Place the Sun, Moon and Earth models in a cap. This will prevent them from rolling around while you work. 2) Lay the Orbit of the Moon sheet down on a flat surface ) Place the Sun model on the spot labeled sun, the Earth model on the dot labeled Earth making sure that the blue side representing daylight faces the sun ) Place the Moon model with the black dot on top of position 1 on the sheet. Be sure that the black dot faces the Earth. 5) Move the moon from position 1 to 2 making sure that the black dot continues to face the Earth. Continue moving the Moon through all 8 positions with the black dot always facing Earth. Answer Questions 1 4 Moon Phases Lab 1/31/2014 1

2 Part 2: Phases of Moon You will be using the Moon model that is BLACK and WHITE for this part of the lab. Procedure: 1. Place each model in a cap. 2. Lay the Orbit of the Moon sheet down on a flat surface. 3. Place the models in their positions on the sheet. Make sure that the Earth s blue side (representing daylight) is facing the sun! 4. Place the Moon model on top of position 1 on the sheet. Be sure that the black side faces the Earth. 5. Keep the following rules in mind! The white side or lit side of the Moon should always face the sun!!!!! For a portion of this activity you will be asked to observe the Moon from the perspective of an observer on Earth. That means you will need to crouch down and observe the Moon model at EYE- LEVEL. Then use Diagram #2 to draw what you SEE! What do you see? Complete Diagram #1 below which shows an orbital diagram of the Earth-Moon system as viewed from above the Earth's North Pole. Light from the Sun is coming from the left. Note that the drawing is not to scale. Shade in the part of the Moon that is in shadow and the part that is unobservable from Earth in each of the eight numbered positions. The first has been completed as an example. (Use dark shading for the shadow, light shading for the unobservable side.) Moon Phases Lab 1/31/2014 2

3 Record the phase and appearance of the Moon in Diagram #2 for each of the eight positions in the diagram as viewed by you at EYE-LEVEL. (Again, the first has been done as an example.) Rotate counterclockwise (to your left) to position 2. Fill in the information on the chart for position 2. Continue rotating throughout all of the positions, filling in the information in the chart. Use your notes to properly name each of the phases on the chart under the Phase Name column. Diagram #2 Moon Phases Position 1 Position 2 Position 3 Position 4 New Moon Position 5 Position 6 Position 7 Position 8 Moon Phases Lab 1/31/2014 3

4 Analysis and Conclusions: Use your notes or a website to answer the following! 1. The motion of the moon around Earth is called 2. How many Earth days does it take for the Moon to make one complete revolution around the Earth? 3. Does an observer on Earth ever see the back side of the Moon (side with no dot)? 4. To an observer on Earth, does the Moon appear to rotate? Does the Moon actually rotate? 5. The term used to describe the Moon as the lit portion increases is. 6. The term used to describe the Moon as the lit portion decreases is. 7. How is the observed 1 st quarter Moon phase different from the 3 rd quarter Moon phase? 8. What percent of the Moon s orbit is completed between positions 1 and 3? How LONG does that take? WEEKS DAYS 9. At which position might the Moon block part of the Sun, making a solar eclipse visible from Earth? 10. At which position might the Earth block the Moon from the Sun, making a lunar eclipse visible from Earth? Base your answers to questions 11 and 12 on the diagram below, which shows one position of the Moon in its orbit around Earth. Letters W, X, Y, and Z are locations on Earth s surface. Moon Phases Lab 1/31/2014 4

5 11. On the diagram below, shade the part of the Moon that appears dark to an observer in New York State when the Moon is at the position shown in the diagram. 12. What is the solar time at location Y? Include a.m. or p.m. in your answer. Base your answers to questions 13 through 16 on the diagram in your answer booklet, which shows the Moon s orbit around Earth. 13. On the diagram in your answer booklet, place a small circle on the Moon s orbit at the new-moon phase where none of the lighted portion of the Moon is visible from Earth. 14. Explain why ocean tides are considered to be cyclic. 15. How long does it take the Moon to complete one revolution around Earth? Express your answer to the nearest tenth of a day. Moon Phases Lab 1/31/2014 5