After a semester of moon observations the students will ---
1. keep a moon calendar and diary of its changes in shape; position; sun-earth-moon angle; and time of sightings for three months.
2. define: waxing --- waning --- gibbous --- crescent ---
new moon --- full moon ---
natural satellite --- artificial satellite ---
geosynchronous satellite orbit / sidereal period --- geostationary satellite ---
revolution / synodic period
3. demonstrate the moon phases using a light source for the sun and a
ping pong ball for the moon
4. measure the daily angular movement of the moon using the
"crossed meter stick" method & plot changes in the
sun-earth-moon angle
5. predict the position of the moon at a future / past time knowing its
current position.
6. memorize ( THAT'S RIGHT, MEMORIZE; it's ok to know a FEW science facts )
diameters:
moon = 2,000 mi
distances:
earth-moon: 240,000 mi
Explain why English and not metric units are used in this activity.
7. construct
9. predict the time the moon will be above the horizon at any phase
10. use Kepler's Big Idea about velocity of satellites / planets to explain
the difference in orbital times of the Space Shuttle; a
geosynchroncous satellite; and the moon.
11. graph orbital data ( velocity & orbital radius ) w / r to objective #10.
9 / 20w / 95
earth = 8,000 mi
sun = 864,000 mi
earth-sun: 93,000,000 mi
8. sketch a diagram to explain why it take about three days to reach the
moon from the earth if the distance traveled is about 250,000 mph
and the escape velocity of the rocket is 25,000 mph.