W5: The Moon & Eclipses

Question 1

“dark side” of the moon

Answer 1

dark side
- refers to the side of the moon that is not currently illuminated by the sun, experiencing lunar night

Question 2

“far side” of the moon

Answer 2

far side
- refers to the side of the moon that is currently facing away from the earth. receives the sunlight

Question 3

Why do we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth?

Answer 3

b/c of a synchronous rotation or tidal locking, where moon’s rotation period matches its orbital period around earth

Question 4

Draw the arrangement of the Sun, Earth and Moon for a Total Lunar Eclipse

Answer 4

Sun - Earth - Moon

Question 5

Draw the arrangement of the Sun, Earth and Moon for a Total Solar Eclipse

Answer 5

Sun - Moon - Earth

Question 6

Explain WHY the Sun is not completely covered by the moon during an Annular Eclipse?

Answer 6

• size of the sun and moon: sun is much larger diameter than the moon
• distance:
• ring of fire: Because the Moon doesn’t completely cover the Sun during an annular eclipse, there is a visible ring of the Sun surrounding the dark disk of the Moon. This creates the characteristic “ring of fire” appearance seen during annular eclipses.

Question 7

Explain why we are still able to see the moon when it is in the Earth’s shadow during a lunar eclipse

Answer 7

b/c of the phenomenon known as “scattering”

earth’s atmosphere scatters and reflects sunlight, allowing some of the longer-wavelength red and orange light to reach and illuminate the moon even when its in the earths shadow, which gives the moon a reddish or copper appearance