Week 6: Earth Sun Moon

 

1. What did you do in lab today?

This week in lab, we explored the questions below by using a light as the sun and having models of the earth and moon at our tables. We looked at how the earth rotates on its own axis, producing the 24- hour day. We learned that the earth's axis is also the cause of the seasons. When the earth's axis points towards the sun, it is summer for that hemisphere. When the earth's axis points away, winter can be expected. Earth also orbits around the sun, producing the 365- day year. The moon takes about one month to orbit earth. The moon spins on its axis once each time it orbits the earth. Because of this, people on Earth only ever see one side of the Moon. The phases of the moon occur as the moon orbits the earth, this changes the way the sun shines on it and reflects different phases of the moon. 

2. What was the big question?

What are your best understandings about

How the phases of the moon occur?

What causes the seasons?

What causes a lunar eclipse?

3. What did you learn in Thursday's discussion?

In lecture, we learned more about the moon phases. I learned that only the part of the moon that sunlight is directly hitting will be seen by us on Earth. We explored New, Full, Quarter, Gibbous, and Crescent moons. I learned that we see each of these phases once a month. A new moon occurs when the moon is close to the sun and the back half is being lit up, making it not visible for us on earth. A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth, so the whole half facing us is lit up. I also learned what a solar eclipse is which is when the sun is being covered completely by the moon. A lunar eclipse is when the sun, the Earth and the moon are perfectly aligned, so the Earth is blocking the direct sunlight from reaching the moon and it isn't visible, or has a different color. 

4. Textbook 

a) What did you learn?

I learned the difference between heliocentrism and geocentrism. Geocentrism, meaning the Earth is at the center of the solar system and heliocentrism, meaning the Sun is at the center of the solar system. I also learned that everyone on Earth sees the same phase of the Moon on the same day. I also learned about Equinox & Solstice, there are two of these each year. Equinoxes mark the day in which all of Earth receives an equal amount of sunlight-12 hours. Solstices mark the days of the year in which a hemisphere receives the least amount of sunlight and the most amount of sunlight. 

b) What was most helpful?

It was most helpful to review the moon phases and why these occur. 

c) What do you need more information on?

I need more information on what is at the center of the solar system. The textbook had explained the stances of both heliocentrism or geocentrism but I did not see a clear answer. Is the sun or earth at the center of the solar system?

d) What questions, concerns, and/or comments do you have?

I am understanding what each moon phase is and why these occur, but I am still concerned about solving problems related to this. 


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