The
Moon
The Moon

What do we already know about the Moon?
Talk With Your Group!

How do you think the Moon affects us here
on Earth?
The effects of the Moon
•Phases of the moon
•Eclipses
•Tides
Talk With Your Group!

Why/How do you think Moon phases
occur?
Why does the moon have
phases?

The changing relative positions of the
moon, Earth, and sun cause the phases of
the moon!
Talk With Your Group!

Why do you think eclipses occur?
Why do eclipses occur?

Sometimes the Earth, sun, and moon line up
so that one object is blocking or shadowing
another
Talk With Your Group!

Why do you think we have tides?
Why does the Earth have
tides?

The sun and moon pull on the Earth’s water
causing the tides to rise
Phases of the Moon
Tides
Periodic rise and fall of large bodies of water
caused by the gravitational attraction of the
moon to the Earth.
High Tide

Outward bulge of water.
 Occurs twice per day
Low Tide

Trough left by the movement of water to the two
bulges.
 Occurs twice per day
Spring Tide

Full or new
moon causes
the gravity of
sun and moon
to combine
causing extreme
high and low
tides
Neap tide

Moon is in Quarter
phase causing the
gravity of the sun
and moon to cancel
each other. (Sun and
moon pull at a right
angle)
 Smaller difference
between high and
low tides
The tide cycle
The Tide
Cycle
Tides: Rate Your Learning!

Do you think you could explain tides to a
friend? If so, then you are a 4!
 Could you Ace a quiz on tides? You are a 3!
 Do you want to study a little, then take a
quiz? You are a 2!
The Moon’s Tilted Orbit

The moon’s orbit
is tilted by 5
degrees, so it is
infrequent for the
sun, moon, and
earth to all line
up. When these
objects do align,
eclipses occur.
Eclipse
When the moon’s shadow
hits Earth or Earth’s shadow
hits the moon, an eclipse
occurs
Types of Eclipses

Solar eclipse – solar
is Latin for sun
 Occurs when the
moon passes directly
between Earth and the
sun, blocking sunlight
from Earth

Lunar eclipse- lunar
is Latin for moon
 Occurs when Earth
blocks sunlight from
reaching the moon
Solar Eclipse
umbra
penumbra

Partial Solar
Eclipse
– Part of the sun is

Total Solar Eclipse
– Light from the sun is
completely blocked
by the moon; within
the umbra
– Umbra- the very
darkest part of the
moon’s shadow on
Earth
visible from Earth
within the
penumbra
– Penumbra- larger
part of the moon’s
shadow on Earth
Total Lunar
Eclipse
When the moon is in
Earth’s umbra, a
total lunar eclipse
occurs.
•Can be seen
anywhere on Earth
that the moon is
visible
Partial Lunar
Eclipse
Occurs when the
moon passes partly
into the umbra of
Earth’s shadow; can
appear orange
•The edge of the
umbra appears
blurry, and you can
watch it pass across
the moon for two or
three hours.
Eclipses: Rate Your Learning!

Do you think you could explain both Solar
& Lunar Eclipses to a friend? If so, then
you are a 4!
 Could you Ace a quiz on Eclipses? You are
a 3!
 Do you want to study a little, then take a
quiz? You are a 2!