Green Z lab 4
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University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill *
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Course
101
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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5
Uploaded by CorporalCapybaraPerson489
Name: Zavier Green
Date: 9/11/23
Lab 04 – Phases of the Moon
Background Material
Introduction to Moon Phases
Q1. Is there a dark side of the Moon? (This is a “yes/no” question, but you must explain your reasoning.)
Answer
: Yes because the moon revolves around the earth at the same pace that earth rotates. Q2. How many days does it take the Moon to complete one cycle of phases?
Answer
: 29 days (about a month)
Q3. If you see a full moon today, what phase would you see one week later?
Answer
: Third quarter
Q4. If you see a full moon today, what phase would you see one month later?
Answer
: A full moon again
Q5. Some words in astronomy have similar meanings in everyday usage. Match the following definitions to the words below by typing/copying the definition next to the word.
convex or rounded
increasing in size, quantity, or intensity
decreasing in magnitude or importance
Answers
:
waning = decreasing in magnitude or importance
gibbous = convex or rounded
waxing = increasing in size, quantity, or intensity
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Q6. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow. How often does this actually occur?
Answer
: 2 or 4
Q7. The figure below shows sketches of the moon’s appearance over a four-week period. Identify the phases and put them in the correct order (enter your answers cells of the table below the figure). One phase is labeled for you.
Figure 1
Answers
:
Picture
Order
Phase
Picture
Order
Phase
A
3
Waning crescent
D
4
First quarter
B
1
waning gibbous
E
5
Waxing gibbous
C
6
Full moon
F
2
Waning crescent
Time of Day
Use the interactive diagram at the bottom of the page to determine the direction of the Earth’s rotation when viewed from above the North Pole. [Hint: rotate the observer – the stick figure – to the noontime position, then sunset position, then midnight position, and finally back to the sunrise position.]
Q8. When viewed from above the North Pole, does the Earth rotate clockwise or counterclockwise?
Answer
: Counter Clockwise
Rising and Setting
Q9. When the moon crosses the western side of the horizon plane, is it rising or setting?
Answer
: Setting
Q10. When the moon crosses the eastern side of the horizon plane, is it rising or setting?
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Answer
: Rising
The Witness and the Detective
Q11. If we know the moon’s position in the sky and its phase, we can estimate the __________.
Answer
: Exact time Lunar Phases Simulator
[
Before completing the table below, be sure to read the descriptions of the simulator controls provided in the instructions for this lab! Then practice using the simulator
.]
Q12. Each row in the table on the next page shows a diagram of the Earth – Moon system. For each diagram, find the time of the lunar cycle (in days and hours) at that position, its phase, and its percent illumination. [Orientation of the sunlight is important. You may find it helpful to print the next page containing the table diagrams, so that you can rotate it and hold it next to the screen to check your answers.]
Proceed to the next page.
Moon Geometry
Time in Phase
Phase
Percent
Illuminatio
n
11 days 9 hrs
waxing
gibbous
88
19 days 13
hours
Wanning
gibbous
75%
24 days, 21
hours
Wanning
Crescent
23%
4 days 10
hours
Waxing
Crescent
20.6%
7 days 7 hours
First Quarter
49%