Modelling the Phases of the Moon

1. Modelling the Phases of the Moon Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University

2. What is the Moon? • Large chunk of rock that goes around the Earth in an orbit. • Planets orbit a Sun, Moons orbit a planet

3. The Earth, Moon & Sun Moon Sun Earth

4. 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

5. Why does the moon not look the same every night? • Different phasesof the moon

6. Naming the phases of the moon.

7. Model 1: Acting out the Phases of the Moon

8. 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

9. Model 2: Shoebox Phases of the Moon • You will need: • Shoe box • Small torch • Black paint/paper • Squash ball • Pencil