In these diagrams, the sunlight is coming from the left, as shown by the arrows in the top view above. What evidence do you have to support which image is most correct?
CFS:
accurately describes the relationship between light and the moon’s appearance
describes the cause and effect relationship between rotational movements and illuminated objects
Question 1
1.
Question 2
2.
What causes the moon to look different each night?
Different portions of the illuminated half of the moon are visible from Earth, depending on the Moon’s orbit
Different amounts of the illuminated half of the moon are visible from Earth, depending on the movement of the sun
Different shadows move in front of the moon during different nights, causing parts to appear dark
The moon changes shape each night, which is what we see from Earth
The light on the moon appears to get larger over time. Why?
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon rotated so that more of the light colored rock on the Moon’s surface faced Earth
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved in orbit so that the astronomers were able to see more of the half that faces the sun.
Between the first observation and the second observation, the Moon moved closer to the sun so more sunlight reached the Moon’s surface.
Between the first observation and the second observation, Earth moved so its shadow was blocking less of the Moon so the astronomers were able to see more of it.
