Term |
Definition |
What is a moon phase? |
The lit part of the moon that is visible from Earth. |
lunar eclipse |
When the Earth comes directly between the sun and the FULL moon. ( Sun > Earth > FULL Moon) |
solar eclipse |
When the NEW moon comes directly between the sun and the Earth. (Sun > NEW moon > Earth) |
What you see when the moon is in the full moon phase |
The moon appears fully lit by the sun's reflected light. |
What is the order of the Earth, sun, and moon during a solar eclipse? |
Sun > NEW moon > Earth |
What you see when the moon is in the new moon phase
|
You aren't able to see the moon |
What is the order of the Earth, sun, and moon during a lunar eclipse?
|
Sun > Earth > FULL moon |
What is happening during a lunar eclipse? |
Earth comes between the sun and the moon. Earth's shadow falls on the moon. |
What is happening during a solar eclipse? |
The new moon comes directly between the sun and Earth blocking our view of the sun. |
Why does the moon have light? |
It's the sun's reflection on the moon. |
This word means when the moon phase is greater than half. |
Gibbous |
This means to “grow smaller” |
waning |
This word means when the moon phase is less than half. |
crescent |
This means “to grow larger” |
waxing |
How does the moon affect high tides? |
The moon's gravitational pull causes the tides. |
How many high tides are there each day? |
2 high tides |
During what moon phases do we experience the highest of the high tides? What is the reason for this? |
During the full or new moon because the sun and moon act together to create a larger tide. |
During what moon phases do we experience the lowest of the low tides? What is the reason for this? |
During quarter moons when the sun, moon, and Earth are at right angles to each other |
Neap tide (low tide) |
When the sun, moon, and Earth form a right angle during the 1st and 3rd quarter moons. |
Spring tide (high tide) |
When the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned during a full or new moon. |
tide |
The rise and fall of the Earth's oceans caused by the moon's gravitational pull. |
gravity |
A force where one object pulls on another object. |
gravitational pull |
The force of gravity that pulls objects toward one another. |