🌕 Moon Phases & Light
Q: What causes half of the Moon to always be lit?
A: The Sun always lights one half of the Moon.
Q: What object does the Moon orbit?
A: Earth
Q: What is a lunar eclipse?
A: When Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon
Q: Why do scientists use models in this unit?
A: To represent and test ideas about space that are hard to observe directly
Q: What do scientists use to support explanations?
A: Evidence
Q: What is the name of the line between the light and dark part of the Moon?
A: The terminator
Q: What does Earth orbit?
A: The Sun
Q: What has to be between the Sun and Moon for a lunar eclipse?
A: Earth
Q: Name one tool used in the unit to study the Moon’s motion.
A: Moon sphere model or digital simulation
Q: What is a scientific argument?
A: A claim supported by evidence and reasoning
Q: Why does the Moon look like it changes shape from Earth?
A: We see different amounts of the lit half as the Moon orbits Earth.
Q: What causes the Moon to change position in the sky over time?
A: Its orbit around Earth
Q: Why don’t lunar eclipses happen every month?
A: The Moon’s orbit is tilted relative to Earth’s orbit.
Q: What does the simulation help students do?
A: See how Earth and Moon positions change over time
Q: What is the main task of students in this unit?
A: Advise an astrophotographer about when to photograph the Moon
Q: Does the Moon produce its own light? Explain.
A: No, it reflects light from the Sun.
Q: What is needed for a full moon to occur?
A: Earth is between the Sun and Moon (Sun–Earth–Moon alignment)
Q: What causes Earth’s shadow on the Moon during an eclipse?
A: Earth blocks sunlight
Q: Why is the model considered “not to scale”?
A: Distances and sizes are too large to represent accurately together
Q: Why do students compare different planetary systems (like Kepler-47c)?
A: To apply what they learned to new situations
Q: Why is the Moon sometimes completely dark from Earth?
A: The lit side is facing away from Earth (new moon position).
Q: Why is a model helpful for studying the Earth–Moon–Sun system?
A: Because the real system is too large and difficult to observe directly.
Q: What conditions must be met for a lunar eclipse to occur?
A: Sun, Earth, and Moon must align in a straight line in the same plane
Q: What is the benefit of changing perspectives in the simulation?
A: It helps understand spatial relationships in 3D
Q: What makes a strong scientific explanation in this unit?
A: It includes observations, models, and reasoning about light and motion