Lab 04
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University of Florida *
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111
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Astronomy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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Name: Shea C
Date:
9/28/2023
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, but it doesn't stay that way all the time since there are roughly four
weeks of darkness and two weeks of sunlight.
Q2.
How many days does it take the Moon to complete one cycle of phases?
Answer
::
around 29 day
Q3.
If you see a full moon today, what phase would you see one week later?
Answer
:
last quarter
Q4.
If you see a full moon today, what phase would you see one month later?
Answer
:
full moon
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
:
o
waning = decreasing in magnitude or importance
o
gibbous =
convex or rounded
o
waxing = increasing in size, quantity, or intensity
Q6.
During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow.
How often does
this actually occur?
Answer
: two to four times every year.
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
2
Third quarter
B
1
waning gibbous
E
6
Waxing gibbous
C
4
New Moon
F
5
waxing 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
:
counterclockwise
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?
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
:
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.
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Moon Geometry
Time in Phase
Phase
Percent
Illuminatio
n
11 days 9 hrs
waxing
gibbous
88
18 days, 15 hrs
waning
gibbous
83.8
25 days, 1 hr
waning
crescent
20.6
3 days, 11 hrs
waxing
crescent
13.0
7 days, 5 hrs
first quarter
48.7