Phases of moon

Learning Outcomes:

Students will be able to

 Understand the concept of phases of

moon
 Identify the phase of moon by looking at
its shape
 Activity

Phases of Moon

Aim: This activity aims to teach the students about how revolution of moon around earth
causes change in its appearance to us from earth. The change in the appearance of moon to
us is known as its phase.

Conclusion/Observation: Students should be able to observe different phases of moon

during its revolution around earth.

Eight are the planets revolving around sun

Revolving around the earth, I am the only one.
Who am I?
Almost every day, we see moon in the sky. But it’s not the same every day. Sometimes it is
completely round, sometimes it is crescent and sometimes it is not visible to us.

It is a common misconception that the moon changes its shape. The moon is constant in its
shape but its appearance to us changes every day.
The moon has no light of its own. It appears shiny to us because it reflects the sunlight falling
on it. During its path of revolution around earth, the amount of sunlight falling on it changes
and it’s shape appears different to us.

We can observe that a full moon slowly changes its shape to become invisible to a full moon
again after few days. The changing shape of the bright part of the Moon that we see is called
its phase.

When the illuminated surface appears to increase from new moon to full moon, it is known as
waxing. When the illuminated surface appears to decrease, it is known as waning.
During waxing and waning, one can see eight phases of moon which are as follows:

 When dark side of the moon is facing the earth, it is known as new moon phase.
 After new moon, we see a thin crescent. This phase is known as waxing crescent.
 The crescent moon appears to grow fatter each night and when half of the moon is
illuminated, we call it a first quarter.
 The moon continues to wax and more than half of the moon is illuminated. This phase of
the moon is known as gibbous phase.
 After gibbous, the full disk of moon is illuminated and we call it a full moon.
 After full moon, it starts waning and we see a gibbous moon again.
 After gibbous phase, again half of the disc is illuminated, this is known as third quarter.

After third quarter, it becomes thinner and appears like a crescent again. This phase is known
as waning crescent.
 Exploration and observation

1. What would happen, if moon stops revolving around earth? Use the kit and write down
your observation.

2. If earth stops revolving around sun, what would be its effect on ‘phases of moon’? Explore
using kit and write down your observation.

3. What all phases can be observed from a new moon to full moon? Explain with the help of a
diagram.