What Causes Moon Phases

Investigation 9, Part 2

The Search for New Moons.Pages 80-83

Reading

What does “advance in detector efficiency” mean?Better technology can find more stuff out there.

What planets have only one moon?Earth and Pluto

Why are giant planets not good for life?Not solid, gas planet

Are the moons of giant planets possibly spots for life?Yes

Does Titan have an atmosphere?Yes

Questions

What planet has a moon with possible water? What is the name of the moon?JupiterEuropa

Why does this moon not have life on it?Too coldRadiation

What moon is volcanic?Io

How are moons useful to the rings around planets?Helps keep the rings in place

Questions

Why do the gas giants have so many moons?Gravity

Where are a bunch of mini planets found?Kuiper Belt

Which plants have no moons?Mercury and Venus

Is the moon count on page 83 accurate?Nope

Why?It’s out of date

Questions

What direction does the Moon rise and set every day?

Does it rise and set at the same time daily? Describe.East to westNo. It rises about 51 minutes later every day.

Discuss

The small spheres on the straws will become the Moon.

The light source will be the Sun.Your head is Earth, with one of your eyes

being your location on Earth. (Phoenix)In your group, try to go through all the Moon

phases. Don’t forget to share. Give everyone a

chance. Share your observations with the class.

Observe the Moon

As we go through these questions, make your own observations and move your “Moon” as needed.

Which way did you turn in order to simulate the revolution of the Moon around Earth?

Where did you position the Moon to observe new Moon? Full Moon?

How can we simulate the rising and setting of the Moon?Hold the Moon in one position and move your head

all the way to one side (counterclockwise) showing the rotation of the Earth, which is responsible for moonrise and moonset.

Questions

So far, our heads have been Earth, and one eye has been you.

Your point of view has been that of an observer in the action.

Now, you will work with your group to explore the phases of the Moon from outside the action.

Use your small Earth globe instead of your head.Work with your group to model this.

Everything rotates or revolves counterclockwise. The visible portion of the half illuminated Moon

accounts for the Moon phases.

Change Point of View

Show the Earth, Moon and Sun during the four phases of the Moon? New Moon, first quarter, full Moon and third quarter?

This is more difficult: Show the rotation of Earth and the revolution of the Moon to show what time of day of night the Moon rises in each of it’s phases.

Figure out how far the Moon travels around the Earth in one day?

Now we will use a light source as the sun, the globe as the Moon and our head/bodies as the Earth.

What phases do you see?

Can You?