The Moon and Its Phases

What You'll Learn

The moon orbits Earth about once every 27 days. We see different moon phases (new, crescent, quarter, gibbous, full) because the sun illuminates different portions as it orbits.

Key Words

revolution
galaxy

Materials Needed

dark room
paper plate
markers
string

Safety First

Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.
Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Review the background information on Space before starting.

Step 2 — Do

Calculate your weight on different planets by multiplying your Earth weight by each planet's gravity factor. Make a bar graph of the results.

Step 3 — Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 — Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What causes moon phases?