Moon Phases Study Guide
SOL 3.8
One revolution of the earth around the sun takes 365 days.
One revolution of the moon around the earth takes 29.5 days about one month.
One rotation of the earth on its axis takes 24 hours, one day.
Be sure to know where the sun’s rays are directly shining during each of the four seasons.
Winter- Southern Hemisphere on the Tropic of Capricorn
Spring- The Equator
Summer- Northern Hemisphere on the Tropic of Cancer
Fall- The Equator
The earth rotates on an imaginary line called its axis.
An orbit is a path an object follows as it moves around another object.
Since the moon revolves around the earth in an orbit, the moon is sometimes called the earth’s satellite.
What causes the ocean tides to earth to change?
The moon’s gravitational pull on the earth causes the ocean tides on earth to change.
What is the sun?
It is a star and it is the center of our solar system.
What makes up the sun?
It is a hot ball of glowing gases.
What force keeps all of the planets in orbit around the sun?
A force called gravity.
Be sure to know the different phases of the moon.
New Moon- the face of the moon is completely dark; this phase begins and ends the cycle of moon phases
Waxing Crescent- the face of the moon seems to be getting bigger and only
a sliver or crescent shape on the right hand side can be seen
First Quarter Moon- only the right half of the moon’s face is shining
Waxing Gibbous- the face of the moon seems to be getting bigger, almost the entire face of the moon is shining, only a crescent of darkness remains on the left hand side
Full Moon- the entire face of the moon is shining and can be seen from the earth
Waning Gibbous- the face of the moon begins to get smaller, only a crescent shape on the right hand side is dark
Last Quarter Moon- only the left half of the moon’s face is shining
Waning Crescent- the face of the moon continues to get smaller, only a crescent shape of the left hand side is shining
New Moon- the cycle of moon phases begins again after a month of moon revolutions around the earth
What causes night and day?
The earth rotates on its axis causing one side (the side facing the sun) to be lighted and the other side (the side facing away from the sun) to be dark.
Two ways the earth and the moon are alike.
They both rotate on their axis.
They both have rocks and soil.
Ways the earth and the moon are different.
The earth does have air and water.
The moon does not have any air or water.
The earth revolves around the sun.
The moon revolves around the earth.
Earth is made up of solids and liquids.
The moon is made up of solids only.