EARTH SCIENCE LAB ACTIVITY
ROTATION/REVOLUTION OF THE MOON
MR. MARINELLI
LEADER: ____________________________
REPORTER: ____________________________
COLLECTOR: _________________________
RECORDER: ____________________________
I.
THE BIG QUESTION: WHY DO WE ALWAYS SEE THE SAME SIDE OF THE MOON?
(In your lab report, copy the Big Question before going to step II.)
II.
HYPOTHESIS: (In your lab report, write your predicted answer to the Big Question above in a complete sentence
before going to step III).
III.
MATERIALS: (In your lab report, write a numbered list of materials needed for the lab activity before going to step
IV). The group collector is to obtain an “Orbit of the Moon” sheet and a Ziplock bag (with a Sun, Earth, Moon model and
three caps) from the black bookcase.
IV.
PROCEDURE AND DATA:
A.
The group leader is to place each model (Sun, Earth, and Moon) in a cap. This will keep the models from rolling
around on the desk.
B.
The group collector is to lay down the “Orbit of the Moon” sheet on a desk. Next, the group collector is to place the
Sun model on the spot on the sheet labeled “Sun” and place the Earth model on the spot on the sheet labeled “Earth”.
C.
The group recorder is to make sure that the blue side (representing daylight) of the Earth model is facing the Sun.
Then, the group recorder is to place the Moon model on top of position #1 on the “Orbit of the Moon” sheet.
D.
The group reporter is to make sure that the back dot on the Moon model is facing the Earth. Then, he/she is to move
the Moon from position #1 to position #2, making sure that the black dot continues to face the Earth. To do this, the
group reporter will need to slightly turn or rotate the Moon model. Then, the group reporter is to observe the Moon
and notice the position of the black dot.
E.
The group leader is to move the Moon model from position #2 to position #3, making sure that the black dot
continues to face the Earth. Again, the group leader will need to slightly turn or rotate the Moon model. Then, the
group leader is to observe the Moon and notice the position of the black dot.
F.
The group members are to take turns moving the Moon model from one position to the next position along its orbital
path around the Earth, until the Moon has completed its orbit around the Earth. Throughout this activity, make
sure that the black dot on the Moon ALWAYS faces the Earth! The group members are to observe the Moon
and notice the position of the black dot.
G.
The group members are to discuss the questions below and then the group recorder is to write down the group’s
answers. (Answer these questions in your lab report before going to the next step.)
•
Does a person on Earth ever see the backside of the Moon (the side without a black dot) at any point during the
Moon’s rotation? ____________________________________________________________________________________
•
To a person on Earth, does the Moon appear to rotate? ____________ Does the Moon actually rotate? ____________
•
Would a person on the Sun ever see the backside of the Moon (the side without a black dot) at any point during the
Moon’s rotation? ____________________________________________________________________________________
•
To a person on the Sun, does the Moon appear to rotate? ___________________________________________________
V.
RESULTS: (In your lab report, give an explanation of what happened during the experiment using complete
sentences. Use the DATA to describe what you learned from the experiment before going to step VI.)
VI.
CONCLUSIONS: (In your lab report, tell me if your hypothesis was true or false using complete sentences. Use the
RESULTS to support your answer.)