"The Moon"
The Moon

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Mr. R. 

 
REQUIREMENT #1a:  Sketch the face of the moon, indicating on it the locations of at least five seas and five craters.
On a sheet of 8x10 paper, draw the circle of the moon.  Add a number of large seas with shapes as accurate as you can draw.  Then add craters close to their actual lunar locations.  Remember, when it says "at least five," that doesn't mean you can't include more to create a better drawing.  LABEL each sea and crater legibly.  Click on the moon photo at the right to enlarge the photo.

 
REQUIREMENT #1b:  Within a single week sketch the position of the moon in the sky at the same hour on three different evenings. Explain the changes observed.
On a sheet of 8x10 paper, draw a picture of the southern horizon, noting the time.    Draw the phase of the moon "as you see it."  On your paper, left represents east, the middle is south, and right is west.  Place the moon in its proper position.  Write the date below each drawing.  

^
<  East                                     South                                    West  >
Hopefully you noticed a number of mistakes in the above drawing!

 
REQUIREMENT #1c:  Tell what factors keep the moon in orbit around the Earth.
The moon is kept in orbit around the earth by a mixture of two forces:  The pull of Earth's gravity and the Moon's inertia.  Imagine swinging a rock in a sling above your head like in the story of David & Goliath.  You are like the earth, the rock is like the moon, and the string that holds the rock is like gravity.  When you let go of the string, the rock flies in a straight line.  Together each of these forces create what is known as centripetal force .  (Be sure to visit the Science Joy Wagon web page).

GRAVITY + INERTIA = CENTRIPETAL FORCE

 

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Requirements: [1-Moon]  [2-Planets]  [3-Planets, Sun & Eclipses]  [4-Experiments]
[5-Galaxy, Stars & Constellations]  [6-Telescopes]  [7-Sun & Stars]  [8-Observation]  [9-Careers]
[FYI-For Your Information]
 

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Web page updated November 2003
Web master, Mr. R.