The Earth-Sun-Moon System Lab Report

Introduction

The Earth-Sun-Moon system moves through space in very predictable cycles. Your job will be to
simulate this movement by creating a source of light (the sun) and using your head as the Earth.
For the moon, you will use a small object, such as a Styrofoam ball on a stick. You will re-create
the Earth-Sun-Moon system and its motions using these models.
Problem:
How do we identify moon phases using a model?
Hypothesis:
Predict the direction of waning and waxing moon phases in your diagram.
For example:
If I move counterclockwise in my Earth-Sun-Moon system, then the phases of the moon will
begin waning/waxing until the new moon/full moon.

Materials:

 One Styrofoam ball or white table-tennis ball

 One dowel rod, pencil, or another long holder for the sphere

 Tape, if needed

 Darkened room, preferably without windows

 One lamp or source of light

Procedures:
1. Poke a hole into your spherical object. If you cannot obtain a Styrofoam ball, another
small spherical object will work.
2. Attach the dowel, pencil, or another long holder to the sphere with tape, if needed. If you
have a Styrofoam ball, stick the holder in the hole you created.

3. Place a bright lamp to one side of a room. Be sure you can darken the room enough to
create shadows.

4. Stand in the middle of the room or in a location where you can hold out your arms and
spin unobstructed.

5. Darken the room and turn your body on its axis counterclockwise, or to your left. (You
are acting as the Earth and the sphere is the moon.)

6. Follow the photographs illustrating the correct sequence of movement:

 a. Step 1: Face the light source (the sun) and hold the sphere (the moon) between
yourself and the light source.

b. Turn 45 degrees (half-quarter turn) counterclockwise so that the light source is

slightly to your right. Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

c. Step 2: Turn another 45 degrees counterclockwise so that the light source is

directly to your right. Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

d. Turn another 45 degrees counterclockwise so that the light source is slightly to

your back. Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

e. Step 3: Turn another 45 degrees counterclockwise so that the light source is

directly behind you. Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

f. Make another 45-degree turn counterclockwise so that the light source is slightly
to your back (left side). Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

g. Step 4: Make another 45-degree turn counterclockwise so that the light source is
to your left. Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

h. Make another 45-degree turn counterclockwise so that the light source is slightly
to your left. Continue to hold the sphere in front of you.

7. As you change positions, you will notice differences in the shadows on the sphere. For
instance, in the following image, you can see that one side of the moon is illuminated
and the other side has a subtle shadow. You will be drawing the shading of the moon in
the diagram provided for each position.
 8. Complete the Table 1 describing each position and each moon phase it represents.
9. Complete the Questions and Conclusion section of the lab report.

As you complete the lab, fill in the following diagram by drawing the appropriate shading on
each circle representing the moon at various stages of Earth’s orbit around the sun. You can
use the “Draw” tool in your document to shade the spheres.

Variables:

For this investigation, list the independent, dependent, and controlled variables.

Data and Observations:

Table 1: Moon Phases

Position # Position Relative to the Sun Name of moon phase

1    

2    

3    

4    

Questions and Conclusion

1. Why did you spin counterclockwise rather than clockwise?

2. Describe exactly when a lunar and solar eclipse could occur within your model. Explain
why eclipses do not occur during every lunar cycle.

3. How would you describe the waxing versus the waning portion of the moon’s journey?

4. How could you change your model to indicate a moon that is at apogee and perigee?
5. In conclusion, how did your hypothesis of moon phases match your moon phase model?

6. In what ways could you continue to investigate the changing positions of the Earth-Sun-
moon system?