7 Questions
What causes the moon's phases?
The reflection of sunlight on its surface
When does a new moon occur?
When the moon is in between the Earth and the Sun, with its side facing Earth not illuminated
How long does it take for the moon to complete its lunar cycle?
29.5 days
What do the terms 'waxing' and 'waning' refer to?
The moon growing in size (waxing) and shrinking in size (waning)
What does a full moon occur when?
When the moon's fully illuminated side is facing the Earth
What is the meaning of the phase 'gibbous'?
A rounded or convex shape, like the moon when it's more than half illuminated
What causes different amounts of sunlight to be reflected by the moon, leading to different phases?
The moon's orbit around the Earth
Study Notes
- The moon appears to emit light but it's an illusion, as the moon itself does not produce light.
- The moon's phases are due to the reflection of sunlight on its surface.
- The moon's orbit around the Earth causes different amounts of sunlight to be reflected, leading to different phases.
- A new moon occurs when the moon is in between the Earth and the Sun, and its side facing the Earth is not illuminated by sunlight.
- A full moon occurs when the moon's fully illuminated side is facing the Earth, allowing us to see the entire moon's surface lit up.
- The lunar cycle, or phases of the moon, takes about 29.5 days to complete.
- The moon goes through several phases as it orbits the Earth, including crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent.
- The terms "waxing" and "waning" refer to the moon growing in size (waxing) and shrinking in size (waning).
- The phase "gibbous" comes from the latin word for "hump" and describes a rounded or convex shape, like the moon when it's more than half illuminated.
- The moon takes about 29.5 days to complete its lunar cycle and return to its new moon phase.
Test your knowledge on the lunar cycle and the different phases of the moon with this quiz. Explore the reasons behind the moon's changing appearance and its relationship with the sun and Earth.
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