Moon Phases
What is the phase of the moon when it is completely dark?
New Moon
What type of eclipse occurs when the moon is between the Earth and the sun?
Solar Eclipse
What causes ocean tides?
The gravitational pull of the moon and sun.
How long does it take for the moon to complete one full orbit around the Earth?
About 29.5 days.
Why do solar eclipses happen only during a new moon?
A new moon occurs when the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are all aligned. This allows the Moon to appear to cover then Sun.
What do we call the phase when the right half of the moon is illuminated?
First Quarter
During which type of eclipse does the Earth's shadow fall on the moon?
Lunar Eclipse
What is a spring tide?
When the sun, Earth, and moon are aligned, resulting in higher high tides and lower low tides.
What is the average distance from the Earth to the moon?
About 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers).
Why don't lunar eclipses occur every full moon?
The Moon's orbit around Earth and Earth's orbit around the Sun are not in the same plane, so the three bodies only line up occasionally.
During which phase does the moon appear full and round?
Full Moon
What is a total eclipse?
An eclipse where the sun or moon is completely covered.
What is a neap tide?
When the sun and moon are at right angles, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides.
What is the term for the dark spots on the moon’s surface?
Lunar Maria
A ____ occurs when the Moon moves directly between the Sun and Earth and throws a shadow on Earth.
solar eclipse
What are the two phases of the moon that occur when it is half illuminated?
First Quarter and Third(Last) Quarter
What is a partial eclipse?
An eclipse where only part of the sun or moon is obscured.
How often do tides occur in a day?
Usually two high tides and two low tides.
What is the phenomenon called when the moon appears larger at certain times of the year?
Supermoon
The phase of the Moon that comes right before the new moon is the ____.
waning crescent
What is the term for the gradual change in the moon's appearance over a month?
Lunar Cycle
What rare event occurs when the moon is at its farthest point from the Earth during a solar eclipse?
Annular Eclipse
What is the name of the tide that has the greatest difference between high and low water?
Spring Tide
What is the name of the first person to walk on the moon?
Neil Armstrong
Bob wants to design a model that will show how the Earth-Sun-Moon system causes the Moon’s phases. She has a lamp, a tennis ball, and a cotton ball. Bob decides to set the lit lamp on a table to represent the Sun.
How can Bob use the tennis ball and cotton ball to represent the new moon phase?
He can hold the tennis ball, representing Earth, in one hand within the lamp’s light and hold the cotton ball, representing the Moon, in her other hand between the lamp and the tennis ball.