Moon Phase Lab
What are the moon's 8 phases of the lunar cycle?
*Draw and label the moon's phases with the position of the sun being to the right of the pages. Include the terms waxing and waning.
*Draw and label the moon's phases with the position of the sun being to the right of the pages. Include the terms waxing and waning.
Quick Check
- Candles were once made by dipping a string, the wick, in melted wax repeatedly. Each time the candle was dipped, another layer of wax was added to the candle. If waxing describes a building up or adding on, then why would the moon be waxing?
Because as we see it, it is growing, just like the thickness of the candle is growing.
- When someone is losing weight due to an illness, it is described as waning away. If waning describes getting thinner or smaller, then when would the moon be waning?
The moon would be waning when it is appears to be getting smaller, when it is "losing" light, therefore we don't see it as much, until it is a new moon.
- A bread roll that is shaped like a c is called a crescent. When could the phase of the moon be considered a crescent?
Right before and right after a new moon appears.
- When 1/2 of the moon appears lit from Earth it is referred to as either the first or last quarter. Explain why these labels are given to the moon.
Really, half of the moon is always lit, but we only see one half of it. When the 1st quarter appears, we only see a quarter lit, out of the whole moon, but to us, it's half a moon. It is the same with the last quarter.
- If gibbous describes something that is bulging, but not completely round, then at what phase is the moon described as gibbous?
Right before and right after a full moon appears.
- The city of Coppell wants to have a firework display for the cities anniversary. During which phase of the moon, would fireworks most likely be able to be seen the best in the sky?
During the "new moon" phase.
- One expression that refers to starting over is to begin with a clean slate. What phase is the moon considered in a clean slate?
The new moon phase.