Phases of the Moon Lab
Complete this lab using Complete, Quality, and Correct (CQC) format in your lab notebook.
Purpose: To learn the phases of the moon – why do we see different phases?
Hypothesis: None needed!
Materials: • styrofoam ball • a light source • Moon phase pictures/names
• scissors • white paper • stick glue • Moon observations
Procedure: Do not copy! Just do it!
Work with a partner. When you and your partner are finished with the Moon paper and Data Table #1, raise your hand and check your answers with Ms. J. Use your Moon Observations to help you…
1. Take the white piece of paper from the demo counter. It has the symbol for Earth in the middle of the paper (~5cm in diameter). The arrows (~ 5cm long) coming up from the bottom of the widthwise edge of the paper represent the Sun’s rays coming toward Earth. Glue this paper into your lab notebook.
2. Draw an arrow around your Earth to represent the direction it rotates as viewed from above the Northern Hemisphere. Shade the night side of Earth. Label the following on your Earth: noon, midnight, sunset (6pm), sunrise (6am).
3. The 8 circles (~2.5cm in diameter) ~5cm away from the middle point of your Earth represent the 8 different phases of the Moon (they need to be next to Earth because you need room for you Moon pictures too). Draw arrows between your Moons showing the direction of revolution of the Moon around the Earth as viewed from above the Northern Hemisphere. Shade the dark sides of the Moons.
4. Use the light centered in the room and the styrofoam ball to determine where the Moon and Earth must be relative to the Sun to create the eight Moon phases on the paper.
· Use the light source as the Sun.
· Use your head as the Earth.
· Use the styrofoam ball as the Moon.
(Hints: the Moon revolves around the Earth in ~28 days the same direction as the Earth rotates; hold the Moon higher than your head for this exercise, i.e., get your head out of the way so that you do not have a Lunar Eclipse!)
5. Gophers go get the envelope for your group. Check to make sure there are 8 pictures and 8 names.
6. Arrange the pictures of the Moon (these pictures are how we would see the Moon from Earth at each of the various 8 positions mentioned in step #3) on one of your papers around the Earth correctly. Use your moon observations to help!
7. Determine the name of each phase and place the name with the picture. Call on Ms. J to check your work.
8. Draw a picture of each phase on the outside of the shaded portion. See Ms. Jensen’s notebook for an example.
9. Copy & complete the following Data Table and Questions:
Data Table 1: Phases of the MoonPhase of the
Moon / Angle between Sun, Earth, and Moon / Number of days since
New Moon / Approximate time of day at zenith
New Moon / 0° / 0 / 12:00 noon
90° / 6:00pm
8 - 13
Full (1/2) Moon
181° - 269°
21
6:01am - 11:59am
New Moon / 360/0° / 28/0
Conclusion: Answer the following questions.
1. Define waxing, waning, gibbous, and crescent without a book.
2. Between what times of day/night would you be able to see a waxing crescent Moon? What side of the moon would have the crescent on it?
3. Answer question #2 for a waning crescent Moon.
4. Pink Floyd had an album called ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ – is there one? Explain.
Extra Credit: (10 pts)
We always see the same face of the Moon as it revolves around Earth. Does the Moon rotate also? Explain your answer.