Higher:
Explain why we only see one side of the Moon
Middle:
Describe the shape of the Moons orbit around the Earth
Lower:
Recall that the Moon orbits the Earth every 27 days
Higher:
Explain how the Moon creates tides on Earth
Middle:
Demonstrate how solar and lunar eclipses are caused
Lower:
Explain that the Earth's gravitational pull stops the Moon travelling away from the Earth
Tell students that the Moon rotates on its axis and it orbits the Earth.
Bearing this in mind, ask them how is it possible that we only see one side of the Moon.
Presentation
Answer questions and take part in activities during the presentation.
Presentation
In today's Expert Film, Apollo enthusiast Jason Haden explains the journey NASA took to get to the Moon.
Presentation - Expert Film.
Moon Orbit Simulation
Students should follow pages 1 and 2 of the Handout to guide them through the PHET interactive simulation. Questions are throughout the guide to develop their understanding of the Moons orbit.
Once students have answered all the questions, encourage them to experiment with the PHET interactive simulation. They could alter the mass of the Earth and Moon simultaneously for example, and they can even change the position of the Earth and the Moon in the solar system by clicking and dragging it.
Page 3 of the Handout asks some reflective questions on the lesson.
Quiz
With their talk partners, the students are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.
Handout (page 3)
Quiz in Presentation
The Science Behind the Science
Most planets have Moons. Moons are natural satellites that orbit planets. Earth only has one Moon but it is the fifth largest Moon in the entire Solar System. Did you know that we can only see the Moon because sunlight is reflected off of it? This means that the part facing away from the Sun is in total darkness. A Moon 'phase' is simply how much of the Moon appears to us on Earth in relation to how much sunlight it has reflected. So, a phase is apparent depending on its position in relation to the Sun and the Earth and its orbit around the Earth. This changes each day.
Have you ever seen a full Moon? This is when we can see all of the illuminated side. When we can't observe any of the illuminated side, then we have a dark Moon. This is when the Moon lies between Earth and the Sun. A complete cycle of the Moon's phases from full Moon to dark Moon takes around 29 and a 1/2 days. There are actually 8 different phases of the moon that we can see.
Gravity forces between the Earth and Moon
Modeling natural phenomena
Grade 9 Gravitation
Grade 6 - Earth Science - Space - Sun, Earth and Moon - The Earth- Sun- Moon System- What is moon like? (lunar landscape) / What causes phase of moon? / What causes eclipses? (solar eclipses) / What causes the tide?
describes the relative size and relative motion of the moon's earth and the sun
