Reference no: EM133205689

Assignment: Science Earth & Space- Earth, Sun and Moon Lab

1. Goal: To demonstrate the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon, as well as what causes the moon's phases and eclipses.

2. Material:

3 dimensional object (spherical/ball shape) to represent the Earth
3 dimensional object (spherical/ball shape) to represent the Moon
Light source to represent the Sun (must be strong enough for the 3 dimensional objects to cast shadows on one another)
Ability to take and submit digital pictures

3. Directions:

Students need to research the relationships between the Sun, Earth and Moon in order to perform this lab and answer the lab questions. This information can be found in the text as well as the internet. If students desire, there is a video about the Moon in the Universe Series that can be watched which will help answer the questions in this lab.

Part 1

I. What is the distance from the Earth to the Sun?

II. How many Earths can fit in the Sun?
Sun's volume / Earth's volume =

III. If you were looking at the Earth and Sun from the direction of the Earth's North Pole, which direction does the Earth orbit around the sun? (clockwise or counterclockwise)

IV. How long does it take for the Earth orbit the Sun?

V. Viewing the Earth from the North Pole, which direction does the Earth rotate on its axis? (clockwise or counterclockwise) Clues: if you draw North America and Europe on your Earth, which way would it need to turn so that England has sunlight before Worcester also the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West?

VI. What is the distance from the Earth to the Moon?

II. What is the approximate ratio of the distance from Earth-Sun to Earth-Moon? Distance Earth-Sun / Distance Earth-Moon =

VIII. How many moons can fit in the Earth? note: think volume Earth's volume = Moon's volume

IX. How does the moon affect the tilt of the Earth in its orbit around the sun?

X. What is the degree of the Earth's tilt?

XI. Would the Earth be habitable if the Moon did not maintain Earth's tilt? Why/Why not?

XII. Earth has an elliptical orbit around the Sun. Is the Earth closest to the Sun during the Northern Hemisphere's summer?

XIII. How long does it take Earth to rotate completely around its axis? (Around itself)

XIV. How long does it take the Moon to rotate completely around its access?

XV. How do the Moon's and Earth's rotation times affect the portions of the Moon we see from Earth?

XVI. How does the Moon affect the Ocean Tides? Where are the high tides in relationship to the moon?

XVII. If you were viewing the Earth from the North Pole, which direction does the moon orbit around the Earth? (clockwise or counterclockwise)

Part 2

I. How does the tilt of the Earth affect our seasons?

Using your model, take Picture of the Earth's tilt compared to the Sun for a Northern Hemisphere's summer.

II. Demonstrate the New, First Quarter, Full and Last Quarter Moon using the 3-D objects (Earth and Moon) and light source (Sun). Under Reference for this module is a link to a site that describes where the moon is during these phases which you may find helpful.

Take pictures of the New, First Quarter, Full and Last Quarter Moon. (4 pictures total) The pictures must be taken while standing on the opposite side of the Earth than the Moon during that moon phase. The light source representing the Sun and Earth should be stationary during the Moon Phases, but aim the light source at the moon. From the view point of the camera, the First Quarter, Half and Last Quarter Moon all should have part of the Moon in sunlight and part of the Moon in shadow (which would be like standing on Earth looking up at the Moon) NOTE: For the Moon Phases, the part of the Moon that is in shadow is because the sunlight is hitting the opposite side. The shadow is NOT caused by the Earth being between the Sun and Moon.

III. Demonstrate a Solar Eclipse? (Take picture which shows location of Sun, Earth and Moon. The Moon must be blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on Earth)

i. Where on Earth do you need to be to see full eclipse?
ii. What is it called if you are on the edge of the eclipse so that it is not a full eclipse?
iii. How often does a Solar Eclipse occur?

IV. Demonstrate a Lunar Eclipse? ((Take picture which shows location of Sun, Earth and Moon. The Earth must be blocking the Sun's light and casting a shadow on Moon)

i. Why does a Lunar Eclipse not happen every month?