Earth S Seasons Important Points Note Taking Guide
NAME:______PERIOD:______
Phases of the Moon Study Guide
- This is a study guide to help you understand why the moon has phases.
- This study guide is worth 30 points and is due by next Monday.
- You can work individually or as a group of two, but no more than two.
- Everyone needs to turn in their own copy of this study guide with the questions answered.
- Start by getting one straw, about 2 inches of masking tape, and one ping pong ball per group.
- Fold the tape back on itself to form a 2 inch tube of tape with the sticky side out.
- Put an end of the straw in the middle of the tube of tape and stick the two overhanging sides of tape down on the sides of the straw.
- Take the ping pong ball and stick the writing on the ball on to the tape on the end of the straw.
- Push the ball onto the tape firmly, but do not crush the ball or straw.
- If you are in a group, both people must complete these procedures so that you both can observe the change in phases on the ping pong ball.
- Stand far enough from the light bulb so that you can hold the ping pong ball out at arms length and turn a complete circle.
- Face the light bulb and hold the ball directly in front of you and a bit above your head.
- Observe what portion of the of the side of the ball facing you is illuminated by the light bulb.
- Now turn 45 degrees to your left and make the same observation.
- Continue to make 45 degree turns to your left until you are facing the light bulb again.
- When you are done with making your observations, remove the ball and tape from the straw and put the ball and straw back and the tape in the garbage can.
1.As you turn to the left and observe the light and dark pattern change on the ping pong ball, draw in the dark portion of each ball AS YOU SEE IT. Label each ball with the correct lunar phase name. [14 points]
2.What does the light bulb represent? [1 point] The light bulb represents the sun.
3.What does your head represent? [1 point] My head represents the Earth.
4.What does the ping pong ball represent? [1 point] The ping pong ball represents the moon.
5.How much of the illuminated part of the ping pong ball could you see when you were facing the light bulb? [1 point] None or almost none of the ping pong ball was illuminated.
6.Whether you could see it or not, how much of the ping pong ball’s surface was always illuminated? [2 points] One-half of the ball is always illuminated.
7.Does the actual shape of the moon change during the phases? Explain your answer. [4 points]
The actual shape of the moon does not change during the phases. If it did, that would mean that the actual substance of the moon was slowly appearing or being created going from the new moon to the full moon phases and that is obvious not what actually happens. Only the visual appearance if the moon changes during the phases.
8.What causes the phases of the moon? Include an ACCURATE sketch of the Earth and moon’s orbital path and direction of revolution and rotation. [6 points]
The phases of the moon are caused by the revolution of the moon around the Earth and the amount of the sunlit portion of the moon that can be viewed from Earth.