Download Observing the Phases of the Moon

Modelling the Phases of the Moon
Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright
Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University
What is the Moon?
• Large chunk of rock that goes around the Earth
in an orbit.
• Planets orbit a Sun, Moons orbit a planet
The Earth, Moon & Sun
Moon
Sun
Earth
The Earth, Sun & Moon
• In groups of 3 we are going to act out the
movement of the Earth and Moon.
– 1 person is the Sun
– 1 person is the Earth
– 1 person is the Moon
• Show how the Earth moves and how the moon
moves
Why does the moon not look the same
every night?
• Different phases of the moon
Naming the phases of the moon.
Model 1:
Acting out the Phases of the Moon
Recording your results
When the Sun, Moon and Earth are in these positions the
moon looks like this from Earth.
(Shade in this circle to show the shadow on
the moon)
This phase of the moon is called a
Full moon
Model 2:
Shoebox Phases of the Moon
You will need:
• Shoe box
• Small torch
• Black paint/paper
• Squash ball
• Pencil