Practice and Apply
PROMPT What is the phase of the Moon in this photo?
credit: NASA
Answer
First quarter
Module 4: The Earth and Space
CC4.1 Investigate the Earth’s place in the solar system
LO4.1.1 Identify the Earth’s shape and size
LO4.1.2 Describe the different types of Earth’s motion
LO4.1.3 Contrast latitude and longitude
LO4.1.4 Perform calculations with time on Earth
★ LO4.1.5 Identify the phases of the Moon
★ LO4.1.6 Determine the effects of the Moon on the Earth
Read Chapter 16 (section 16.4) of Physical Science, 13th edition by Bill Tillery McGraw Hill Education
NASA: Moon Phases
This is a video from NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio which shows a top down view, from the North Pole, of the Moon's motion around the Earth. At the beginning of the animation, the Moon is in the first quarter phase, from there it moves to a full moon, to a last quarter, to a new moon, and back. You can read more about the phases of the Moon from NASA's article on the topic from the Moon Phases webpage.
Time: 1:00
credit: NASA
The physics of the Earth's tides because of the Moon's gravity is fairly complicated, so watch this video from PBS Eons which explains it. The key to understanding comes down to the direction of the tidal acceleration of each piece of ocean along the Earth's surface with respect to the Moon's location.
Time: 15:20, but you can reduce the time to the first 8.5 minutes
PROMPT What is the phase of the Moon in this photo?
credit: NASA
Answer
First quarter