Seasons, Lunar Cycle and Tides BMS 8th Grade Science G. Nicole Magee: Instructor

1. Seasons, Lunar Cycle and Tides BMS 8th Grade Science G. Nicole Magee: Instructor

2. See the Handout Match the four positions of the Moon shown in the diagram to the lunar phases shown.

3. 1. Draw and label a diagram that shows the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during the lunar phase called a full moon. 2. Draw and label a diagram that shows the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon during the lunar phase called a new moon.

4. Look at the figure �Phases of the Moon� on p15 of the Earth, Moon, Sun books. Answer these questions. Why does the moon have phases? What does the phase of the moon you see depend on? Is the near side always the lighted side?

5. How did working with a model help you understand the phases of the moon? What are some disadvantages of using models? What is another way to make a model to represent the moon�s phases?

6. Enrico and Leah live in opposite hemispheres. Enrico lives in Santiago, Chile. Leah lives in Boston, MA. They both gazed at the Moon on the same evening. Enrico noticed there was a waning gibbous moon when he looked up at the sky from his location. What do you predict Leah saw. Provide an explanation for your answer.

7. Answer The phase of the moon seen anywhere on Earth is the same since the positional relationship of the Earth to the sun and the Moon does not change although your location on Earth differs. The change in your location is not significant enough to change the view of the Moon to a different phase.

8. Use specific details from the Tide Graphing Activity to explain spring and neap tides, high and low tides, and tidal ranges.

9. Lunar Activity 1

10. Lunar Activity 3

11. Why we have phases:

12. So, that means� Half of the Moon is always lit, not just the portion we see However, sometimes we only see a profile of the lit portion of the Moon. Certain phases of the Moon result depending on its orbit, and the Moon's orbit is responsible for the phase changes we see.

13. And� Since we only see the lit portion of the Moon that is facing Earth, we see a Moon phase.� There are eight phases that the moon goes through and they always occur in the same order.� The Sun's light seems to move from right to left across the surface of the Moon.�

14. Why do we see different phases of the moon? The moon revolves around the Earth, so the relative positions of the Earth, moon and sun cause the phases The changing amount of the lit portion of the moon visible on Earth = Phases

15. New Moon During a New Moon we can see NO portion of the Moon's surface that is lit.� We see only the dark side of the Moon.� This typically marks the beginning of the Lunar Cycle which lasts 29 1/2 days.� The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun in its orbit.�

16. Waxing Crescent� During the Waxing Crescent phase, we see on the right side a small sliver of the lit Moon.�

17. First Quarter During the First Quarter phase, we see the right half of the lit Moon.� The Moon and Earth are now "side by side" in their orbits around the Sun.�

18. Waxing Gibbous � During the Waxing Gibbous phase, we see almost the entire right side of the lit Moon.

19. Full Moon During a Full Moon, we see the entire half of the Moon surface that is lit.� The Moon is positioned behind the Earth and Sun.

20. Waning Gibbous� During the Waning Gibbous phase, we see almost the entire left side of the lit Moon.

21. Third Quarter During the Third Quarter phase, we see the left half of the Moon lit.� The Moon and Earth are now "side by side" in their orbits around the Sun.

22. Waning Crescent� � During the Waning Crescent phase, we see on the left side a small sliver of the lit Moon.

23. Waxing and Waning Waxing: illuminated portion of the moon facing Earth is increasing Waning: illuminated portion of the moon facing Earth is decreasing

24. Lunar Lollipops LAB Problem: Modeling the phases of the moon with yummy lollipops

29. Answer the following questions and turn in your lab for grading. What does it mean when someone says the moon is �waxing� and �waning�?

30. Lunar Lab Days 2 and 3 Complete each step sequentially. Do not ask for help until you have attempted to model that step. Turn off the lamps when not in use.

31. Model Day and Night With Mt. Nose Your head is the Earth Mt. Nose is located on the Earth�s equator Anything straight ahead of you, in front of your nose, is crossing the meridian overhead. Extend your arms out to the side, palms forward. Anything in front of your face or arms is visible, �above the horizon�.� Anything behind you is �invisible� beneath your horizon. Mt. Nose turns eastward (to the left) as the Earth rotates. Mr. and Mrs. Epidermis live on Mt. Nose

32. Draw the phases of the moon.

33. What is a meridian? A meridian is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface from the North Pole to the South Pole that connects all locations with a given longitude.

34. Page 7 Sunrise

35. Page 7 Sunset

37. Tides Graphing Lab

38. Spring Tides Look at the data for high and low tide levels on the table. Find the highest high tide and the lowest low tide and record them on the back of your data sheet. These are SPRING TIDES.

39. Neap Tides 2. Look at the data and find the dates of the lowest high tide and the highest low tide and record them. These are NEAP TIDES.

40. Tidal Range 3. Calculate the tidal range for each day by finding the difference between high tide and low tide levels for that day. Record it in the column titled �Tidal Range.� The value for January 1 is given.

41. Tidal Range Patterns 4. Look at the day-to-day change in the difference between high and low tide levels that you recorded for 3. DESCRIBE ANY PATTERN YOU DETECT.

42. Graphing Tidal Data 5. Graph the daily high and low tide levels. Use 6 sheets of graph paper. Use one color for high tides and a different color for low tides. Make tide level the y-axis and date of the month the x-axis. Carefully determine your intervals. Don�t forget the negative numbers! Don�t forget to label your axes and title the graph.

43. Completing Your Graph 6. Your graph should show three spring tides and three neap tides. Label each of the spring and neap tides on your graph.

44. Completing Your Graph 7. Add the following info on the dates of various lunar phases to your graph: first quarter moon on January 2 and again on February 1; full moon on January 9 and again on February 8; last quarter moon on January 16; and new moon on January 24.

45. Completing Your Graph Find a relationship between the pattern of high and low tides and the phases of the moon. Predict when the following will occur and explain your reasoning for each: The next spring tide The next neap tide The next new moon The next full moon

46. Tides Tides are the regular rise and fall of the sea level

47. Spring and Neap In addition to the Moon, the Sun�s gravity also pulls on Earth�s waters Sometimes the sun�s and moon�s gravity work together (spring tide) Sometimes they pull on the water at right angles (neap tide) Spring and Neap tides both happen twice a month

48. Spring Tide during full & new moons highest high tides & lowest low tides Greatest tidal range (difference between high and low tide)

49. Neap Tide Neap tide: during first & last quarter moons lowest high tides & highest low tides Smallest tidal range

50. GT/PreAP Bonus Question Many planets have multiple moons. Discuss how the tides would be affected if Earth had two moons (A and B), each half the size of the current moon, in the following two scenarios. a) Assume the two moons followed the current orbit of the moon and were located on opposite sides of Earth (half an orbit apart; for example, in the positions of the new moon and full moon). b) Assume the two moons followed the current orbit of the moon and were located one-quarter of an orbit apart (for example, in the positions of the new moon and the first quarter moon).

51. Question 32: What is a tidal range? A tidal range is the difference between the level of the ocean at high tide and at low tide

52. Question 31: Why does the moon have a greater effect on the tides than the sun? The moon has a greater effect on the tides because it is so much closer. Gravitational attraction between the Sun and Earth also affects the tides. The effects of the Sun are not as great as those of the Moon because the Sun is much farther away. But the Sun can strengthen or weaken the Moon�s effects, depending on the positions of the sun, Moon, and Earth. As the Moon revolves around Earth, the Moon reaches a point where it is in a straight line with the Sun and Earth at new Moon or full moon. At this point, the Sun's gravitational pull is in the same direction as the Moon�s. The combined gravity of the Sun and Moon causes spring tides.

53. Question 30: How many high and low tides are there in most areas each day. Most places on Earth have two high tides and two low tides within a 24hr period.

54. Question 29: During which moon phases does a neap tide occur? Neap tides occur during 1st and last quarter moons.

55. Question 28: During which moon phases do spring tides occur? Spring tides occur during new moons and full moons.

56. Question 27: Draw a picture to show the positions of the sun, moon, and earth during spring and neap tides.

57. Question 26: What is the difference between Spring Tides and Neap Tides? Spring tides occur when the sun, moon, and earth are aligned. The tidal range is the greatest at this point. The combined gravitational forces of the moon and sun are at work. Neap tides occur when the moon, earth and sun form a right angle (1st and last quarters. The Sun�s gravitational attraction pulls water away from areas of high tides to areas of low tides. The result is high tides that are lower than normal and low tides that are higher than normal.

58. Question 25: Why do tides occur? Gravitational attraction between the Moon and Earth, together with Earth�s motion in space, causes tides. The moon�s gravity pulls on Earth, but it pulls harder on particles closer to the Moon than on particles farther fro the Moon. This causes a bulge of water to form on the side of Earth closest to the Moon. Another bulge forms on the opposite side of Earth because of forces caused by Earth�s motion in space. As Earth rotates on its axis, different locations on Earth pass through these bulges. The high points are high tides. The low points are low tides.

59. Question 24: What are tides? Tides are the regular rise and fall of sea level. When sea level reaches its highest point, it is high tide. Later in the day, when the sea level drops to its lowest point, it is low tide.

60. Question 23: When a person in the northern hemisphere sees a waning gibbous, what does a person in the southern hemisphere see The phase of the moon seen anywhere on Earth is the same since the positional relationship of the Earth to the sun and the Moon does not change although your location on Earth differs. The change in your location is not significant enough to change the view of the Moon to a different phase.

61. Question 22: What phase of the moon is seen when the moon is between the sun and the earth? During a New Moon we can see NO portion of the Moon's surface that is lit.� We see only the dark side of the Moon.� This typically marks the beginning of the Lunar Cycle which lasts 29 1/2 days.� The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun in its orbit.�

62. Question 21: What sides of the moon are illuminated during waxing and waning? During the Waxing Gibbous phase, we see almost the entire right side of the lit Moon. During the Waxing Crescent phase, we see on the right side a small sliver of the lit Moon.� During the Waning Crescent phase, we see on the left side a small sliver of the lit Moon. During the Waning Gibbous phase, we see almost the entire left side of the lit Moon.

63. Question 20: What is the difference between waxing and waning? As the Moon revolves around earth and away from the sun, we see a bit more of its lighted side each night and se say the moon is waxing. Each day after the full moon, we see less and less of the moon's lighted side, and we say the moon is waning.

64. Question 19: What causes the change in moon phases? As the moon orbits Earth, we can see different amounts of the Moon�s lighted side. Because of this, the Moon�s shape appears to change from day to day in a predictable way. For example, at the new moon phase, the moon is lined up between Earth and the Sun. All of the Moon�s lighted side is facing the Sun, and all of the ;Moon�s dark side is facing Earth. So we see no Moon at all.

65. Question 18: How long does it take the moon to make one revolution. The lunar cycle takes 29.5 days. This is slightly longer than the 27.3 days the Moon takes to orbit Earth, because while the Moon is orbiting Earth, Earth is also moving forward in its orbit around the Sun.

66. Question 17: What causes the dark side of the moon? The half of the moon that does not face the sun is dark.

67. Question 16: What portion of the moon is always illuminated by the Sun�s rays? The half of the moon that faces the sun reflects its light and is illuminated.

68. Question 15: Why do we always see the same side of he moon? The moon�s rotation and revolution take the same amount of time; therefore, we always see the same side of the moon.

69. Question 14: In which direction does the moon revolve around the Earth? The moon moves counter clockwise around the Earth.

70. Question 13: Draw a diagram to show the earth�s positions during different seasons.

71. Question 12: What are vernal and autumnal equinoxes. Draw a diagram. When the sun�s rays strike the equator directly. See Question 13

72. Question 11: Draw pictures to show winter and summer solstices. Explain the terms. Solstices are the two times of the year when the Sun�s direct rays strike earth the farthest north or south of the equator. See Question 13

73. Question 10: Which areas of the earth get the most concentrated light when it is winter in the southern hemisphere? Tropic of Cancer

74. Question 9: Compare seasons of the hemispheres. They are opposite

75. Question 8: Which areas of the Earth consistently receive direct light? How does this affect the temperature? Close to the Equator Tropical Climate with high temperatures

76. Question 7: Which areas of the Earth consistently receive indirect light? How does this affect the temperature? Poles Cold climates and temperatures

77. Question 6: Why does the earth experience direct and indirect light? The axial tilt

78. Question 5: Describe the difference between direct and indirect light? In direct sunlight, solar energy is concentrated onto a smaller area. In indirect sunlight, the same amount of solar energy is spread out over a larger area.

79. Question 4: What is the difference between rotation and revolution? The spinning motion of an object on its axis is rotation. Earth rotates in a counterclockwise direction. It takes 24 hours to complete one rotation. The movement of an object in an orbit around another object is revolution. Earth�s revolution around the sun is 365.25 days (1 year)

80. Question 3: How is Earth�s axial tilt related to the seasons? The summer season in the northern hemisphere occurs when the north pole is pointed toward the sun. We experience warmer weather during this period for two reasons. First, the Sun�s light more directly strikes the hemisphere that is tilted toward it, causing solar energy to be concentrated in a smaller area. Second, the hemisphere that is tilted toward the Sun receives more hours of daylight than the hemisphere that is tilted away from the Sun. So in the summer, the Northern Hemisphere receives a greater amount of solar energy for a longer period of time each day.

81. Question 2: What is the angle of the tilt of the earth�s axis? 23.5 degrees

82. Question 1: What causes seasons? Seasons are a result of Earth�s tilt on its axis.

83. That�s All Kids!