Science Earth & Space Discussion

SCI105
Mrowka
Earth, Sun and Moon Lab
Goal: To demonstrate the relationship between the Sun, Earth and Moon, as well as what causes
the moon’s phases and eclipses.
Note: This is a 2 week lab assignment and is divided into Part A and Part B. Part A is due the
first week and Part B is due the second week. Due to the amount of work; the lab is weighted as
2 separate labs. This lab can be done with or without lab partners. This lab does not require a
full lab write-up, only answers to the questions and lab pictures. If the lab is done in a group
(maximum 4 to a group), each member must submit their own answers in their own words to
the lab questions, but only 1 lab partner has to submit lab pictures.
Material:
3 dimensional object (spherical/ball shape) to represent the Earth
3 dimensional object (spherical/ball shape) to represent the Moon
Light source to represent the Sun (must be strong enough for the 3 dimensional objects to
cast shadows on one another)
Ability to take and submit digital pictures
Directions:
Students need to research the relationships between the Sun, Earth and Moon in order to
perform this lab and answer the lab questions. This information can be found in the text
as well as the internet. If students desire, there is a video about the Moon in the Universe
Series that can be watched which will help answer the questions in this lab.
Part A Due Week 1
1. What is the distance from the Earth to the Sun?
2. How many Earths can fit in the Sun?
Sun’s volume =
Earth’s volume
3. If you were looking at the Earth and Sun from the direction of the Earth’s North Pole,
which direction does the Earth orbit around the sun? (clockwise or counterclockwise)
4. How long does it take for the Earth orbit the Sun?
5. Viewing the Earth from the North Pole, which direction does the Earth rotate on its
axis? (clockwise or counterclockwise) Clues: if you draw North America and Europe
on your Earth, which way would it need to turn so that England has sunlight before
Worcester also the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West?
6. What is the distance from the Earth to the Moon?
7. What is the approximate ratio of the distance from Earth-Sun to Earth-Moon?
Distance Earth-Sun =
Distance Earth-Moon
8. How many moons can fit in the Earth? note: think volume
Earth’s volume =
Moon’s volume
9. How does the moon affect the tilt of the Earth in its orbit around the sun?
10. What is the degree of the Earth’s tilt?
11. Would the Earth be habitable if the Moon did not maintain Earth’s tilt? Why/Why
not?
12. Earth has an elliptical orbit around the Sun. Is the Earth closest to the Sun during the
Northern Hemisphere’s summer?
13. How long does it take Earth to rotate completely around its axis? (Around itself)
14. How long does it take the Moon to rotate completely around its access?
15. How do the Moon’s and Earth’s rotation times affect the portions of the Moon we see
from Earth?
16. How does the Moon affect the Ocean Tides? Where are the high tides in relationship
to the moon?
17. If you were viewing the Earth from the North Pole, which direction does the moon
orbit around the Earth? (clockwise or counterclockwise)
Part B Due Week 2:
18. How does the tilt of the Earth affect our seasons?
Using your model, take Picture of the Earth’s tilt compared to the Sun for a
Northern Hemisphere’s summer.
19. Demonstrate the New, First Quarter, Full and Last Quarter Moon using the 3-D
objects (Earth and Moon) and light source (Sun). Under Reference for this module is
a link to a site that describes where the moon is during these phases which you may
find helpful.
Take pictures of the New, First Quarter, Full and Last Quarter Moon. (4
pictures total) The pictures must be taken while standing on the opposite side of
the Earth than the Moon during that moon phase. The light source representing
the Sun and Earth should be stationary during the Moon Phases, but aim the
light source at the moon. From the view point of the camera, the First Quarter,
Half and Last Quarter Moon all should have part of the Moon in sunlight and
part of the Moon in shadow (which would be like standing on Earth looking up
at the Moon) NOTE: For the Moon Phases, the part of the Moon that is in
shadow is because the sunlight is hitting the opposite side. The shadow is NOT
caused by the Earth being between the Sun and Moon.
20. Demonstrate a Solar Eclipse? (Take picture which shows location of Sun, Earth
and Moon. The Moon must be blocking the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on
Earth)
a. Where on Earth do you need to be to see full eclipse?
b. What is it called if you are on the edge of the eclipse so that it is not a full
eclipse?
c. How often does a Solar Eclipse occur?
21. Demonstrate a Lunar Eclipse? ((Take picture which shows location of Sun, Earth
and Moon. The Earth must be blocking the Sun’s light and casting a shadow on
Moon)
a. Why does a Lunar Eclipse not happen every month?